Brunson returned from a foot injury to lead the Knicks to a 2-0 playoff series lead over the Pacers.
Jalen Brunson overcame his injury to spark a sensational second-half comeback as the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 130-121 in their best-of-seven NBA playoff series to go 2-0 on Wednesday took the lead.
New York talisman Brunson gave his team a major scare after suffering a foot injury in the first quarter that forced him to miss the rest of the half at Madison Square Garden.
Indiana took advantage of Brunson’s absence to build a 10-point lead by halftime and was soon ahead by 12 points in the third quarter after an early layup by Andrew Nembhard.
But a limping Brunson – who returned early in the third quarter – led a stunning rally as the Knicks outscored Indiana 36-18 in the third quarter and took a 99-91 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks then did everything they could to maintain their lead in the fourth period, outscoring the Pacers 31:30 and completing the famous victory.
Brunson finished the game with 29 points and five assists, while Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby led the way with 28 points each.
Josh Hart added 19 points with 15 rebounds, while Isaiah Hartenstein was outstanding defensively with 12 rebounds, eight assists and 14 points.
Jalen Brunson turns heads in Game 2, scoring 24 of his 29 PTS in the 2nd half @nyknicks for a 2-0 series lead! Game 3 is Friday at 7 p.m./ET on ESPN.
AND Anunoby: 28 PTS (playoff career high), 4 15 p.m
Josh Hart: 19 PTS, 15 REB, 7 AST
Donte DiVincenzo: 28 PTS & 6 3pm… pic.twitter.com/BYPeAh3Nj7– NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
“We found a way, that’s all,” said an exhausted Brunson. “For us it starts with our habits – we talked about doing the little things a little bit better from day one because you never know when they’re going to help you in a big game.
“It’s about doing the little things well every day, and we’re proud of that.”
However, the win came at a cost for the Knicks, who were already missing injured first-choice players Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic.
In addition to Brunson’s injury on Wednesday, the Knicks suffered an injury to another player: Anunoby had to leave the game limping in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.
Somehow the Knicks managed to outrun the Pacers, with Brunson scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter and DiVincenzo adding eight points, including two crucial three-pointers that helped keep Indiana at bay.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau announced that the team was unsure whether Brunson would continue after he missed the second quarter.
“We didn’t know if he could go or not, but he found a way to make it happen,” Thibodeau said.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana scorers with 34 points, while Nembhard finished with 15 points and Pascal Siakam had 14 points. Obi Toppin added 20 off the bench.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was ejected late in the fourth quarter after he cursed at the officials after they decided to overturn a double-dribble call on the Knicks’ Hartenstein.
Carlisle took aim at the incumbent team after the defeat, saying his team had been treated unfairly.
“I always talk to our guys about how it’s not just about the officials, but we deserve a fair chance,” Carlisle said. “There is no consistent balance and that is disappointing. Give New York credit for the physicality with which they play. But their physicality is rewarded and ours is punished.”