In the second game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, Jalen Brunson returned from a right foot injury to lead the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers, securing a 2-0 series lead. Brunson scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half, coming out to warm up during halftime after missing the entire second quarter due to the injury. Although he fell short of becoming the second player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in five consecutive playoff games, Brunson’s performance proved crucial for the Knicks. OG Anunoby scored a career-high 28 points for the Pacers, but left with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter. The Knicks, who have already lost key players such as Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic to season-ending injuries, received strong support from Brunson’s Villanova teammates, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart, who contributed 28 and 19 points, respectively. Tyrese Haliburton put forth a strong effort for the Pacers, scoring 34 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, but the team ultimately fell short. The series continues with Games 3 and 4 in Indiana on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Additional context: The Knicks’ victory also marked the second anniversary of Willis Reed’s iconic emergence from the locker room before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to lead the Knicks to their first championship. However, the team’s injury woes continue, as coach Rick Carlisle was ejected during the game after receiving two technical fouls. Despite this, the Knicks remain optimistic about their chances of making it to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000. The betting market may be overreacting to the Knicks’ injury list, as Game 2 will take place at Madison Square Garden, where the home advantage could give the Knicks an edge. Nonetheless, the loss of key players like Randle, Robinson, and Bogdanovic makes it difficult for the Knicks to compete with potential opponents like the Boston Celtics in the conference finals.
Leave a Reply