Knicks' Jalen Brunson Shoulders Blame for 'Lackadaisical' Game 1 Loss

Further high-scoring antics alongside RJ Barrett were no consolation for Jalen Brunson, as he and the New York Knicks face a postseason deficit for the first time after dropping Game 1 against the Miami Heat on Sunday afternoon.

BRAD PENNER, USA TODAY SPORTS

Jalen Brunson has often been labeled the primary reason for the New York Knicks' ongoing resurgence. Dealt a threat of being laid to rest, he's more than willing to accept the blame for potentially derailing losses.

The Knicks trail in the 2023 NBA Playoffs for the first time after Sunday afternoon after enduring a 108-101 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. New York led by as much as 12 in the early going and held a five-point lead at the halftime break but lost their sense of physicality over the latter 24 minutes, never leading again after Miami embarked upon a 21-5 run in the third quarter.

Wasted in the effort was another scoring showcase from Brunson and RJ Barrett, who united for 51 points in defeat. Brunson has reached 20 points in each of the Knicks' six playoff games thus far. 

Further statistical serendipity with his backcourt companion Barrett (averaging 23 points on 54 percent shooting over the past four games) was of little consolation to Brunson, who demanded that those seeking a culprit behind the Knicks' first series deficit of the 2023 postseason come to him.

“Today, I was horrific,' Brunson said in the aftermath per Zach Braziller of the New York Post. "Jimmy (Butler) primarily was guarding me, so for me, I need to be able to sprint back and protect the basket. When other guys are going to the rim or shooting, I can’t be lackadaisical on that part. I’m going to keep saying it: This is on me today.”

It doesn't take a deep dive into the box score to see where the Knicks went wrong: New York failed to capitalize on the momentum generated by early interior penetration and shot an unsightly 7-of-34 from three-point range. Those struggles hit Brunson particularly hard, as he was 0-for-7 from deep, the misses mounting as the score got away from the Knicks. With Julius Randle out due to injury, Brunson, Barrett, and Josh Hart united to shoot 1-of-16 with the extra point in question and that effort was hardly beautified by Obi Toppin's 4-of-11 tally.

Brunson also lost five turnovers on Sunday after being charged with 12 total in the five-game quarterfinal series victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This season, and even several moments from Sunday's game, has likely brought Brunson plenty of leeway amongst the demanding Knicks fanbase. The primary point guard did sink 11-of-16 inside the arc and dished out a game-best seven assists alongside Barrett. He has never been one to value individual accomplishments over team earnings, however: back in January, Brunson notably blamed himself for a "terrible" fourth quarter when he put in a then-career-best 44 points in a 111-107 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks that saw New York lose a 17-point lead.

That trend continued after Sunday's game, with Brunson, perhaps unfairly, shouldering the burden of the blame for the latest example of metropolitan postseason futility.

“Inside the three-point line, I was pretty efficient,” he said, per The Post. “Outside the 3-point line, I was terrible. They’re a good team, great (defensively), well coached, experienced. So you've got to give them credit, but for me, I've got to be better.”

"There were key moments in the game where you need to finish strong and be strong, and that starts with me," he continued in video from SNY. "(It was) very uncharacteristic of me and this one is on me. I got to get better." 

Brunson and the Knicks have an opportunity to even the best-of-seven series on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT) before the series shifts to South Beach.

---

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Knicks? Click Here.

Follow AllKnicks.com on Twitter.