Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks past the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the NBA Cup.

Jalen Brunson jokes about Josh Hart’s stolen watches and explains his unexpected write-in support after Knicks beat Toronto.

They are the patch of calm where everywhere else storm clouds are either raging or gathering momentum. This can all change on a dime, of course — or with the snap of an ankle, or the crackle of a knee, or even if things go particularly poorly beginning with an unfavorable outcome of the game with the Raptors.

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.

With several players being mentioned in trade rumors, Max Kellerman proposed that the Lakers should send LeBron James to the New York Knicks.

New York City elected Zohran Mamdani as its new mayor. Many voters playfully cast ballots for Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Brunson, however, stated he will not run for mayor and will focus on his basketball career.

The New York Knicks face the Toronto Raptors in an NBA Cup quarterfinal Tuesday. Tip at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, is set for 8:30 p.m ET

The New York Knicks and Orlando Magic won Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal games on Tuesday, advancing to a semifinal head-to-head Eastern Conference matchup on Saturday in Las Vegas. The winner of Saturday's Knicks-Magic contest plays in the NBA Cup championship game on Tuesday, Dec. 16, in Las Vegas against the eventual West winner.

Jalen Brunson had 30 points and nine assists, Josh Hart added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the New York Knicks beat the Orlando Magic 106-100 on Sunday.

One of the faces of the New York Knicks looks more and more like a keeper in the starting five.