Jalen Brunson Crosses Up Ausar Thompson, Hits Game-Winning 3 To Send The Knicks To The Second Round

After failing to secure the 4th win of the series in Game 5 at home in Madison Square Garden Tuesday night, the New York Knicks traveled to Detroit for their last chance to win the series early and get a few extra days of rest before battling the Boston Celtics.

With the score tied 113-113 and the shot clock turned off, everyone in Little Caesar’s Arena knew Jalen Brunson, the 2025 NBA Clutch Player of the Year, would be taking the last shot.

Pistons 2nd year defensive stud, Ausar Thompson, had Brunson in hell all series—frustrating the 2-time All-Star and turning the NBA media and fans against Brunson’s foul-baiting.

So it’s Jalen Brunson vs. Ausar Thompson for the game…

JALEN BRUNSON WITH THE GAME WINNER TO SEND THE KNICKS TO THE SECOND ROUND#NBAPlayoffs2025 pic.twitter.com/VmuXUzV6H1

— Dead Serious (@DSNewsTicker) May 2, 2025

This angle of the Jalen Brunson game winner…. wow pic.twitter.com/xRO03EVFOB

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 2, 2025

Jalen Brunson splashed the game-winner to send the Knicks to the second round.

Here’s what Brunson did Thursday night to send his squad to Boston:

40 points
15-for-33 from the field
4 rebounds
7 assists

Looks like a monster game but Brunson had a roooough 4th quarter, missing 8 of his first 9 field goal attempts. And that one made field goal came from a Pistons weird mistake.

Dennis Schröder and Ausar Thompson with a miscommunication, and Jalen Brunson grabs the offensive board and scores. pic.twitter.com/gsNzTaPoUP

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) May 2, 2025

Brunson even missed a late midrange jumper that got saved by Mikal Bridges, respawning under the basket at the perfect time for a tip-in.

MIKAL BRIDGES TIES IT.
KNICKS GET THE STOP. @nyknicks 113@DetroitPistons 113

20.6 SECONDS TO GO, KNICKS BALL ON TNT WITH A CHANCE TO ADVANCE! pic.twitter.com/KQpy4yfqxB

— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025

As much as that final shot by Brunson was heroic, it was the Detroit Pistons inexperience that cost them this game—specifically Cade Cunningham, who scored his little 23 points but shot 9-for-22 from the field, including going 0-for-8 from 3, just chuking up duds all night long.

Going into this series, the experts almost all agreed Cade Cunningham was the best player in this series but Jalen Brunson proved there’s level to this shit.

It’s time for Cade to get back in the lab and prepare for an MVP caliber 2025-26 season and the Knicks go into Boston for a huge second-round battle.

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