Villanova in the Pros: Jalen Brunson Pushes Hawks to the Brink

Villanova product Jalen Brunson put his New York Knicks one win away from advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday, April 28, scoring 39 points in a 126-97 dismantling of the Atlanta Hawks.

Brunson made 15 of 23 shots (three-of-five from three) and added eight assists to just one turnover. He assisted on early three-pointers from Villanova teammate Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns, helping the Knicks open a double digit lead in the first quarter. Hart finished with nine points, five rebounds and four assists. This marks the fourth time in five games that Brunson crossed the 25-point plateau.

The Knicks will head to Atlanta with a 3-2 series lead: they dropped games two and three on late Hawks’ baskets. Hart tried to set up Wildcats’ alumnus Mikal Bridges for a buzzer-beater from the corner in Game 2, but the forward’s shot clanged away as time expired.

Other program alumni active in the NBA playoffs include Kyle Lowry, whose 76ers trail the Boston Celtics 3-2; Minnesota Timberwolves wing Donte DiVincenzo tore the Achilles’ tendon in his right ankle earlier this month, while Collin Gillespie’s Phoenix Suns fell 4-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While not a Villanova attendee, Philadelphia native Jalen Duren is averaging close to a double-double for the Detroit Pistons in the first round. A Roman Catholic graduate, he’ll try to stave off elimination at home at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29: Detroit faces a 3-1 series hole against the Orlando Magic.