Jalen Brunson selected as finalist for NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year

It was fitting that Jalen Brunson came through in the clutch in Saturday night’s playoff opener, a day before he was named as one of three finalists for the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year (also known as the Jerry West Trophy) on Sunday night.

Brunson scored 12 of his game-high 34 points in the final 8:27, leading the Knicks to a come-from-behind Game 1 victory over the Pistons on Saturday night.

During the regular season, Brunson averaged a league-leading 5.6 points and shot 51.5 percent from the field in the clutch — when the game is within five points in the last five minutes, as defined by the NBA. He committed only 0.3 turnovers per game in such situations.

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 goes up for a shot during the fourth quarter. The Knicks defeated the Pistons 123-112 to take a 1-0 series lead. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The other finalists are Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets.

The NBA introduced the award in 2022-23.

De’Aaron Fox won it the first year and Stephen Curry claimed the honor last season. One hundred media members vote on the award.

For either team, the biggest injury concern for Monday is Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart, who has been dealing with knee pain and motioned for a sub in the middle of the Knicks’ 21-0 run in the fourth quarter of Game 1.

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Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he had no update after Sunday’s film session, but indicated that Stewart was dealing with more than just knee inflammation.

“There’s a lot going on there,” Bickerstaff said.

Stewart was listed as questionable for Game 2.

Knicks forward OG Anunoby drives to the basket as Pistons center Isaiah Stewart gives chase during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Stewart, a physical frontcourt presence, was the only Piston with a positive plus-minus (they outscored the Knicks by eight points with him on the court), but he only managed 19 minutes.

“I think we all felt [his absence]. He was phenomenal [Saturday] night,” Bickerstaff said. “His effort, how he protected the rim, the energy he brought, how his teammates fed off that energy, was huge. And when he’s not on the floor for us, we all have to bring that. We have to find a way. Because we just can’t lean on him and just expect it to be him. We have to play with that same ferociousness and that effort that he does.”