Jalen Brunson leads Knicks to 2-0 series lead over Pacers

Jalen Brunson made a strong comeback from a right foot injury, scoring 24 of his 29 points in the second half to lead the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. This win gave the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

On the anniversary of Willis Reed’s iconic return during the 1970 NBA Finals, Brunson’s performance ignited the Madison Square Garden crowd. After missing the entire second quarter while the Pacers took the lead, Brunson’s return at halftime was a game-changer for the Knicks.

Although Brunson didn’t reach the milestone of becoming the second player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in five straight playoff games, his efforts were crucial in helping the Knicks secure the win. OG Anunoby also had a standout game, scoring a career playoff-high of 28 points before leaving with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter.

Despite facing injuries to key players, such as Anunoby, the Knicks managed to pull off the win with contributions from Brunson and his Villanova teammates. Donte DiVincenzo scored 28 points, while Josh Hart contributed 19 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.

Tyrese Haliburton led the charge for the Pacers, bouncing back from a poor Game 1 performance with 34 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. However, the Pacers struggled after losing coach Rick Carlisle to ejection following two technical fouls.

The series now shifts to Indiana for Game 3 and Game 4, with the Knicks looking to maintain their lead and secure a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.