Jalen Brunson made a triumphant return from a right foot injury to lead the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers, giving the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Brunson scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half, helping his team secure a crucial win.
On the significant anniversary of Willis Reed’s heroic return during the 1970 NBA Finals, Brunson’s comeback ignited the Madison Square Garden crowd. Despite missing the entire second quarter while the Pacers took the lead, Brunson’s performance in the second half was crucial for the Knicks.
While Brunson fell short of making NBA history with 40 or more points in five straight playoff games, he was still instrumental in the Knicks’ victory. OG Anunoby also had a standout game with a career playoff-high 28 points, although he left the game in the third quarter due to a left hamstring injury.
Despite numerous injuries, including Anunoby and Iman Fasilau who missed Game 2 due to injuries, the Knicks rallied behind Brunson and his Villanova teammates, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart. Together they led