Hart’s point, in his own way, was clear: Brunson is playing at an elite level right now. And Knicks coach Mike Brown was more direct, walking into the postgame interview room Saturday and hammering home a specific point he’s been making in recent weeks — that Brunson, even this early in the season, belongs in the MVP conversation.

Knicks captain Jalen Brunson leads the way before New York and San Antonio vie for the Emirates NBA Cup in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Jalen Brunson got hot in Las Vegas at the right time. The Knicks’ All-NBA point guard dropped his first 40-point game of the season on the Magic, plus dished out eight assists, to put New York into the championship game of the NBA Cup.

Jalen Brunson's apparent illness at media day has raised serious questions about his availability for the New York Knicks' crucial NBA Cup semifinal game again

Jalen Brunson dropped 40 points as the New York Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic 132-120 on Saturday in Las Vegas to clinch a spot in the NBA Cup finals.

New York’s captain won last season’s NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year award, an honor that goes to someone who routinely wills their team to victory in the game’s most intense moments. Brunson did it in the regular season and the playoffs. He did it while being defended by players three inches taller, some 20 pounds heavier. A scorer’s scorer.

Jalen Brunson anotó al menos 30 puntos por cuarto encuentro consecutivo, alcanzó su máximo número de la temporada con 40 unidades y condujo el sábado a los Knicks de Nueva York a un triunfo de 132-120 sobre el Magic de Orlando,

Ask Jalen Brunson, and the Knicks’ superstar will say he doesn’t ever think about how he turned the franchise around. See Also inside the knicks Why Guerschon Yabusele and the Knicks both may be looking forward to the opening of NBA trade season But ask Mike Brown,