Jalen Brunson delivered a performance for the ages on Saturday night, scoring a franchise NBA Finals-record 45 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs and secure the team's first NBA championship since 1973.Brunson took control when the Knicks needed him most, pouring in 29 of his 45 points after halftime as New York erased a 15-point deficit in the third quarter. The comeback capped another dramatic turnaround for the Knicks, who also found themselves down by 16 points in the second quarter before rallying to seize control of the decisive Game 5.The championship-clinching win completed a dominant series for New York, which captured four of the five games in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Throughout his run with the Knicks, Brunson's wife, Dr. Ali Marks Brunson, has been by his side.Dating to Marriage: Jalen Brunson and his wife Ali Brunson’s love story Throughout Jalen Brunson's rise from a promising young player to one of the NBA's biggest stars, his wife, Ali Marks Brunson, has remained a constant source of support. The couple's relationship dates back more than a decade, beginning when they met as students at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, according to online platform MARCA. Their relationship began long before Jalen Brunson's NBA career took shape. High school sweethearts, the couple chose to continue dating even after enrolling at different colleges. (Photo Credit: Instagram / alibrunson11) On one hand, Jalen attended Villanova University, where he played Division I basketball while On the other hand , Ali chose to stay closer to home, enrolling at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to pursue her studies, according to her LinkedIn. She studied kinesiology and exercise science, graduating in 2017.In 2018, she attended Northwestern University, and went on to receive her doctorate in physical therapy in 2021. Ali began her career as a physical therapist at the W.B. Carrell Memorial Clinic in Dallas. Before earning her license as a physical therapist, Ali gained hands-on experience as a rehabilitation aide at Athletico in Chicago, where she assisted other therapists and patients.Over the years, their bond evolved from a teenage romance into a lasting partnership, eventually leading to marriage and, more recently, parenthood. Jalen proposed to Ali in September 2022. According to PEOPLE, he took her to their alma mater and proposed to her on the basketball court of their high school gym. In 2023, the two tied the knot and the couple share a daughter, Jordyn James Brunson, who was born on July 31, 2024. How Ali Supported Jalen Brunson on Social MediaAhead of Game 5 in San Antonio, Ali shared multiple posts on her Instagram Stories expressing her love for her husband and family, while also showing how she was gearing up for the all-important game.(Photo Credit: Instagram / alibrunson11)Following the victory, she reshared a video posted by the NBA on her Stories that captured the Brunson family's celebration of the NBA championship.