“What’s the dude’s name on Snoopy? Linus? He got a blanket? I’m Linus and Jalen’s my blanket. He helps me relax at a lot of different times throughout the course of games, but that’s what great players do.”
– Mike Brown on Jalen Brunson
Getty
Mike Brown compared himself to Linus from Peanuts and called Jalen Brunson his "security blanket"
The New York Knicks moved within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-94 in Game 3 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Despite playing without OG Anunoby, the Knicks overcame an early 12-point deficit behind another dominant performance from Jalen Brunson, who finished with 33 points and nine assists.
After the game, Knicks coach Mike Brown delivered one of the most memorable quotes of the postseason while explaining Brunson’s importance to the team. Brown compared himself to “Peanuts” character Linus and called Brunson his “blanket” because of the calm and control the All-Star guard brings during tense playoff moments.
“What’s the dude’s name on Snoopy? Linus? He’s got a blanket? I’m Linus and Jalen is my blanket,” Brown said after the win. “He helps me relax a lot of different times throughout the course of the game.”
“What’s the dude’s name on Snoopy? Linus? He got a blanket? I’m Linus and Jalen’s my blanket. He helps me relax at a lot of different times throughout the course of games, but that’s what great players do.”
– Mike Brown on Jalen Brunson
The victory gave New York a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series and continued Brunson’s outstanding postseason run as the Knicks handled another difficult road environment in Philadelphia.
GettyNew York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson
The Knicks struggled early Friday night.
Philadelphia built momentum quickly behind its home crowd, and Brunson opened the game shooting 2-for-8 in the first quarter. Without Anunoby available because of a strained right hamstring and with Karl-Anthony Towns dealing with foul trouble for stretches, New York needed Brunson to stabilize the offense.
That is exactly what happened.
Brunson scored 10 points in the second quarter as the Knicks erased the early deficit and took control before halftime. He added nine points in both the third and fourth quarters and finished 11-for-22 from the field.
Brown said Brunson’s ability to stay composed changes the emotional tone for everyone around him.
“Yeah, I mean, I said before, Jalen’s, this dude’s name, Snoopy Linus,” Brown said. “He got a blanket. Jalen’s, I’m Linus, Jalen’s my blanket.”
Brown continued praising Brunson’s leadership after the game.
“So he gets me, he helps me relax at a lot of different times throughout the course of games,” Brown said. “But that’s what great players do. They keep you poised, they make the game easier for everybody else, and they help you get through the stretch.”
The 76ers tried multiple defensive approaches against Brunson throughout the night.
According to league tracking data referenced after the game, VJ Edgecombe served as Brunson’s primary defender, but Brunson still shot 5-for-8 against him. Kelly Oubre Jr. also spent time defending Brunson, who went 4-for-5 in those matchups.
Philadelphia also trapped Brunson and picked him up full court at times, but none of the adjustments slowed him consistently.
GettyNew York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges
While Brunson controlled the offense, several Knicks contributed during key moments of the second half.
Mikal Bridges scored 23 points and continued his strong recent playoff form. Josh Hart added 12 points and 11 rebounds as New York turned a close fourth quarter into another double-digit win.
The Knicks outscored the 76ers late despite Joel Embiid returning to the lineup after missing Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and sore right hip. Embiid finished with 18 points for Philadelphia.
Brown credited Brunson for making the game easier on the rest of the roster during difficult stretches.
“That’s what great players do,” Brown said. “They keep you poised, they make the game easier for everybody else.”
The Knicks have now taken full control of the series despite missing Anunoby, who remains day to day with a hamstring strain. Anunoby has averaged 21.4 points during the postseason and remains one of New York’s most important defensive players.
Still, the Knicks continue finding answers behind Brunson’s leadership and shot creation.
The All-Star guard has repeatedly responded to pressure situations throughout the playoffs, and Friday night followed the same pattern. After struggling early, Brunson controlled the pace of the game and delivered another efficient scoring performance as New York moved within one win of a second straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in Philadelphia.
Debayan Biswas is a sports writer covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He focuses on breaking news, trades, and player stories. His work has been featured by Athlon Sports and Pro Football and Sports Network, with republication across platforms including Yahoo Sports and Yardbarker. More about Debayan Biswas
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