Jalen Brunson Scores 38 in Game 5 Win Over Heat As Knicks Stay Alive in Series

Jalen Brunson Scores 38 in Game 5 Win Over Heat As Knicks Stay Alive in Series

Joel Reyes
updated at May 11, 2023 at 7:07 AM
  • The New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat in Game 5
  • Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in scoring with 38 points
  • The Knicks sent the series back to Miami for Game 6

The New York Knicks kept their title hopes alive with a 112-103 victory over the Miami Heat, in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series on Wednesday night.

Jalen Brunson starred for the Knicks in the must-win contest, scoring 38 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and dishing out seven assists.

He played all 48 minutes in Game 5 with their playoff lives hanging in the balance.

New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Julius Randle, Kyle Lowry, RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Love
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks prepares to play prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat on May 10, 2023. Image: Elsa
Source: Getty Images

Two other players scored in double figures for the Knicks, who denied Miami’s first attempt to become just the second eighth-seeded team to reach the conference finals.

Exciting feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ click on "Recommended for you" and enjoy!

Barrett and Randle shine

RJ Barrett delivered in Game 5, finishing with 26 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block, per ESPN.

He shot 8 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Julius Randle also contributed, racking up 24 points, five boards, and five assists. He shot 7 of 13 from the floor, including 4 of 7 from the 3-point area.

Knicks rally after poor start

The Knicks got off to a terrible start as they trailed the Heat by 10 points after the first quarter. They turned things around in the second quarter, outscoring Miami 36-23 to build a 50-47 lead entering the halftime break.

New York opened the second frame with an 18-2 blast to grab the lead against the Heat.

The Knicks continued their excellent play in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 19 points after embarking on a 23-7 run to start the second half.

There is no quit with the Heat, who made a furious rally in the fourth quarter. They sliced the opposition's lead all the way down to two points at 103-101 following Jimmy Butler’s free throw with 2:37 left.

The Knicks survived that late onslaught, finishing the game with a 9-2 run to extend their season for at least one more game.

Jokic delivers in Game 5

Sports Brief recently reported on the Nuggets’ win over the Suns in Game 5 of their second-round series.

Nikola Jokic starred in Denver’s victory, registering a triple-double with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored 19 points for the Nuggets, who hold a 3-2 lead in the series.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.