Jalen Brunson 42 points vs Nuggets (Feb 4, 2026): 2nd-best of 45 games
42 PTS · 14-of-27 FG · 5-of-12 3P · 9-of-11 FT · 47:00 MIN
Usual before this game: 26.8 PTS · 20.3 FGA · 34.2 MIN, from 44 regular-season games
2nd-best Game Score of the 45 games the source holds this season: 32.8 against a usual 19.0 (+13.8)
above usual
No more than 5 in 100 games by players at this level finish this far above their usual.
For a player who plays every game, a game this far above the usual comes about 2 to 4 times a season.
How the score worksWhy did Jalen Brunson score 42 points?
In 47:00 against the Nuggets on Feb 4, 2026, Jalen Brunson scored 42 points: 14-of-27 from the field (51.9%), 5-of-12 from three (41.7%), 9-of-11 on free throws (81.8%). Coming in, Brunson had averaged 26.8 points on 20.3 shots in 34.2 minutes, from 44 regular-season games. By Game Score it was the 2nd-best of the 45 games the source holds this season. Brunson took 27 shots, 6.7 more than usual. The rate from the field was 51.9%, against a usual 46.7%. By shot type: threes 15 points (usual 8.8); two-pointers 18 points (usual 13.1); free throws 9 points (usual 4.9). Minutes: 47:00, against a usual 34.2; Game Score per 36 minutes: 25.1, against a usual 20.0. Brunson had 5 turnovers and 2 fouls, against a usual 2.2 and 2.3. The Knicks won 134-127 at home against the Nuggets. The box score records what changed, not why: it holds no injury, matchup or coaching information.
Generated from the box score and this season's game log. How the score works
What changed
Brunson in this game against the usual line
| Stat | This game | Usual (44 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 47:00 | 34.2 | +12.8 |
| Points | 42 | 26.8 | +15.2 |
| Shots (FGA) · FG% | 27 · 51.9% | 20.3 · 46.7% | +6.7 · +5.2 |
| 3PA · 3P% | 12 · 41.7% | 7.7 · 37.9% | +4.3 · +3.8 |
| FTA · FT% | 11 · 81.8% | 5.7 · 86.0% | +5.3 · -4.2 |
| Rebounds | 8 | 3.1 | +4.9 |
| Assists | 9 | 6.0 | +3.0 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 2.2 | +2.8 |
| UsageUsual: minutes-weighted average of per-game usage, 44 games | 38.1 | 31.0 | +7.1 |
| Game Score per 36 minutes | 25.1 | 20.0 | +5.1 |
Points by shot type
Twos, threes and free throws: the changes add up to the points change
| Shot type | This game | Usual (44 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threes | 15 (5-of-12) | 8.8 (2.9-of-7.7) | +6.2 |
| Twos | 18 (9-of-15) | 13.1 (6.5-of-12.6) | +4.9 |
| Free throws | 9 (9-of-11) | 4.9 (4.9-of-5.7) | +4.1 |
| Total | 42 | 26.8 | +15.2 |
Game Score
One measure of the whole box score line
32.8 against a usual 19.0 (+13.8)
Its five parts
| Part | Change |
|---|---|
| Scoring, net of shot attempts | +11.9 |
| Rebounds | +1.3 |
| Assists | +2.1 |
| Steals and blocks | +1.2 |
| Turnovers and fouls | -2.7 |
| Total | +13.8 |
Season so far
Regular season, in date order
2nd-best Game Score of the 45 games the source holds this season.
Context
From the rows this page already reads
- The Knicks won 134-127 at home against the Nuggets.
- Previous appearance: Feb 3, 2026, 1 day earlier.
- No earlier regular-season meetings with the Nuggets this season.
- The source holds fewer Knicks games than this season has, so season highs, lows and ranks count only the games it holds.
What this page cannot tell you
The same on every performance page
Box scores record what happened, not why: no injuries or health, defensive assignments, matchups, coaching decisions or play-by-play.
Game Score against the player's own usual line. How rare a gap is comes from NBA regular-season games of 2023-24 and 2024-25, checked on 2025-26.