WATCH: Knicks' Jalen Brunson Falls Just Short of Advancement in Three-Point Contest

A perfect rack at the top of the key wasn't for New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson to advance to the second round of the annual Three-Point Contest.

Alas, there's but one life for this Wildcat.

New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson fell just short of advancement in the annual Three-Point contest despite posting perfection on the rack set up at the top of the key. The final effort saw Brunson score 24 points but he needed 26 to advance to the three-man final round.

View Brunson's full outing below (h/t SNY):

A 24-point round in the 3-Point Contest for Jalen Brunson

He needed 26 to avoid elimination. pic.twitter.com/RWUbaEVYsw

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 18, 2024

Partaking in his first Three-Point Contest, Brunson struggled at the onset, hitting only five of his first 10, though three were "money balls" worth two points. He then hit all five shots offered at the top of the key, part of a streak of eight in a row that also included the first of two "Starry ball" attempts good for three.

Alas for New York, Brunson sank only 2-of-5 in the final corner, falling short of the four-way tie at 26 apiece between Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Damian Lillard (Milwaukee), and Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota). Brunson ranked second among those eliminated, one behind Lauri Markkanen (Utah). Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland) and Malik Beasley (Milwaukee) rounded out the field with 21 and 20 respectively. 

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At the very least, Brunson did manage to beat out Julius Randle's performance in last year's event in Salt Lake City: called upon as a late injury substitute, Randle placed seventh of eight shooters with a final score of 13.

After the field was sliced in half, the four leaders partook in a shortened knockout round, which saw Haliburton left behind. Dame Time struck in the final round as Lillard bested Towns and Young with a score of 26, becoming the first repeat winner of the event since Jason Kapono (2007-08). 

New Yorkers craving outside glory have one more shot to enjoy: New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu is set to compete in a one-on-one long-distance shootout with fellow legend of the deep ball Stephen Curry.