In the second game of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Brunson’s triumphant return from a right foot injury sparked the Knicks to a commanding 2-0 series lead, with his 24 of his 29 points coming in the second half.
On the anniversary of Willis Reed’s iconic Game 7 appearance in the 1970 NBA Finals, Brunson’s performance sent the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy. Despite missing the entire second quarter while the Pacers surged ahead, Brunson’s resurgence helped secure a crucial win for the Knicks.
OG Anunoby also had a standout performance, scoring a career playoff-high 28 points before leaving with an injury in the third quarter. The Knicks received strong contributions from their Villanova teammates Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart as well. DiVincenzo scored 28 points, while Hart contributed 19 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists to help propel the Knicks to victory.
Tyrese Haliburton bounced back from a tough Game 1 with an impressive performance, posting 34 points, nine assists, and six rebounds for the Pacers. However, after head coach Rick Carlisle was ejected from the game following two technical fouls, Haliburton struggled to keep up with his teammates.
As they head to Indiana for Games three and four in this exciting series, both teams will look to maintain their momentum and secure their place in the Eastern Conference finals for what could be one of them