Jalen Brunson Owns Late Mistakes as Knicks’ Shooting Woes Deepen

Jalen Brunson took responsibility for his late-game decisions after the New York Knicks suffered another frustrating defeat. Sunday’s 111-102 loss to the Orlando Magic dropped the defending champions to 0-3, with poor perimeter shooting and fourth-quarter turnovers again proving costly.

New York connected on just 23.7% of its three-point attempts, while Brunson finished 1-for-7 from beyond the arc. His difficulties extended to ball security: two of his three turnovers occurred in the final period.

The Knicks committed seven turnovers as a team during those closing 12 minutes, undermining their chances of securing a first victory.

Brunson Focuses on Execution After Fourth-Quarter Errors

Following the game, Brunson acknowledged that his decision-making had fallen short down the stretch. He also pointed to a distinction between missing shots and failing to handle the details that remain within a team’s control.

His assessment was that New York had created worthwhile scoring opportunities but had not converted enough of them. Even so, better shooting alone would not address every problem.

Protecting possessions, making sound decisions and maintaining concentration become especially important when shots are not falling. Against Orlando, the Knicks compounded their offensive frustration by repeatedly giving the ball away in the fourth quarter.

Brunson’s comments placed the emphasis on correcting those habits. A shooting slump can fluctuate from game to game, but New York needs more reliable execution regardless of whether its perimeter attempts are dropping.

The immediate challenge is to stop missed shots from being accompanied by avoidable mistakes.

Three-Point Struggles Add Pressure Before Detroit Matchup

Through three games, Brunson is shooting 26.7% from three-point range on five attempts per game. That represents a difficult opening stretch for a player whose scoring is central to New York’s offense.

His 42.9% shooting on two-point attempts has not provided an especially efficient counterbalance, either. Although the sample remains small, the Knicks need their captain to find a more dependable rhythm.

The broader perimeter numbers also show room for improvement. New York has made 32.4% of its three-pointers while averaging 37 attempts per game, leaving a significant portion of its offense dependent on shooting that has yet to become consistent.

Tuesday’s meeting with the Detroit Pistons on October 27 presents another test against a team that has started the season strongly on defense.

For Brunson and the Knicks, the priority is to combine better shot-making with cleaner possessions. Finding the range would help, but reducing turnovers and executing under pressure will be just as important in their pursuit of a first win.