Jalen Brunson, Knicks advance to NBA Cup quarterfinals with win over Bucks

On a night Giannis Antetokounmpo was dominant again, Jalen Brunson was the more unstoppable superstar on the floor.

The Knicks had seen a 13-point fourth-quarter lead dwindle down to just two points and had made just one of their previous 11 shots.

But there was Brunson, drawing a foul on Antetokounmpo on a 3-pointer.

Of course, he drilled all three free throws to give the Knicks a five-point lead and some breathing room. 

A few possessions later, there he was again, drawing a foul on Myles Turner, nailing a floater and the subsequent free throw to complete the three-point play and extend the Knicks’ lead to seven points.

He let out a visceral scream, and the Garden crowd responded with its nightly “MVP” chant for him. 

It was enough, as the Knicks beat the Bucks 118-109 Friday night.

The switch in mindset — which Brunson makes when he’s decided it’s no longer time to look to get his teammates going, but rather time to take over the game himself — is always noticeable.

It, mostly without fail, comes when the Knicks need it most. 

It came earlier than that crunch-time sequence as well.

There he was, scoring eight straight Knicks points and 13 of 16 of their points to close the third quarter. 

On this Black Friday, Brunson — who took less money than he had to on his current Knicks contract — proved again that he is the best bargain in the league. 

In what was a do-or-die situation, the Knicks won Group C in the NBA Cup and advanced to the quarterfinals.

They dumped the Bucks — who won the Cup last year — out of the tournament in the process.