NBA players with an NBA title, NBA Finals MVP, NCAA title, and Naismith College POTY:
Jalen Brunson
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Bill Walton
That’s it. (@bballforever_)
Jalen Brunson of the @nyknicks is the second player in NBA history to score 45+ points on the road in a title-clinching victory.
The other was Michael Jordan at Utah in 1998.
The Spurs are the only team in NBA history to have:
76 or more points in the first half
30 or fewer points in the second half
...in any game, regular season or playoffs.
The @nyknicks trailed by 27 at the half tonight. They came back to win.
That's the largest halftime deficit overcome to win a playoff game in NBA history.
Josh Hart led all players in total rebounds (15) and assists (6) in his first career NBA Finals game tonight.
The only other players in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55) to lead all players in rebounds and assists (includes ties) in their first career NBA Finals game are Shaquille O'Neal (1995) and Larry Bird (1981).
The NYPD ban on Knicks watch parties directly outside Madison Square Garden has been lifted for tonight, per SNY sources. The NYPD had previously banned watch parties in Plaza 33 during the ECF. But they’ve reversed the decision for Game 1 on Wednesday night. An MSG spokesperson confirmed that the Garden has applied for permits to host the Plaza 33 party tonight and those permits have been granted. The permit is solely for tonight’s Game 1. Status for future watch parties is TBD. The NYPD previously banned the watch parties outside MSG during the ECF against the Cavaliers for being too rowdy.
Leon Rose puts his arm around his son, Sam, and visibly breaks down in tears after the emotions set in of the Knicks going to the NBA Finals.
This is beautiful stuff. We love you, Leon. Thank you for everything you have done.
h/t: Jordan Brill
Mikal Bridges' FG% the last 10 games:
75.0 (W)
50.0 (W)
83.3 (W)
70.0 (W)
69.2 (W)
57.1 (W)
60.0 (W)
63.6 (W)
75.0 (W)
73.3 (W)
The only other player in NBA history to shoot at least 50.0% from the field in 10 straight playoff games while winning all 10 is LeBron James (2017).
Gerrit Cole in his first 5 seasons with the @Yankees :
915 K
3.12 ERA
1.03 WHIP
The only other MLB pitchers in the live ball era (since 1920) to match those numbers through their first 5 seasons with a team are Max Scherzer (2015-19 w/WSH) and Pedro Martinez (1998-02 w/ BOS).
The Knicks have won 9 straight games and have a +212 point differential in those games, the best in any 9-game span in NBA history (regular or postseason) 📈