Jalen Brunson battles through foot injury to lead Knicks over Pacers in Game 2

Things have been wanting bleak for the New York Knicks when Jalen Brunson, their MVP all season, didn’t play all the second quarter due to injury. 

But when Brunson returned in the second half, the Knicks returned to type to defeat the Indiana Pacers in Game 2, 130-121, to take a two-game lead in their second spherical collection in the NBA Playoffs. 

New York battled again from 10 factors down at halftime thanks to Brunson’s efforts. He led the Knicks as soon as once more in the factors division, although he wasn’t in a position to make it 5 straight postseason contests with 40 or extra factors. 

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New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (11) gestures after making a 3-point shot in opposition to the Indiana Pacers in the course of the first half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball second-round playoff collection Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brunson completed with 29 on 11-of-18 capturing, together with 3-of-6 from three-point territory, whereas dishing 5 assists and tallying three steals. 

“I’m just happy I did, to be honest with you. We found a way,” Brunson mentioned after the sport to TNT about returning to the sport. 

When Brunson went out, Madison Square Garden couldn’t work out why and it led the raucous Knicks trustworthy to murmur. It was then the place the Pacers began to change the tune of the sport, outscoring the Knicks with fastbreak buckets and large open three-pointers. They gained the second quarter in the field rating, 37-27, to rating 73 first-half factors. 

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Tyrese Haliburton was a key issue in the Pacers’ cost, as he had a significantly better recreation offensively than Game 1, the place he had simply six factors with six complete pictures. Haliburton completed with a game-high 34 factors with seven three-pointers made, together with 5 in the primary half. 

But MSG erupted when Brunson got here out with a couple of minutes left in halftime to heat up, and after testing that foot, he advised head coach Tom Thibodeau he was prepared to get again in there. 

Obi Toppin #1 of the Indiana Pacers appears to be like on in the course of the recreation in opposition to the New York Knicks throughout Round 2 Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.  (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE through Getty Images)

The Knicks would find yourself destroying the Pacers in the third quarter, 36-18, to retake the lead heading into the fourth. 

And whereas the Pacers have been relentless, Brunson and the Knicks continued to do what they do greatest: get the ball in the arms of their star level guard, seize offensive rebounds and shut out huge video games. 

Now, whereas Brunson did return, the Knicks didn’t go away this recreation with out some dangerous injury information. 

OG Anunoby, who had 28 factors on 10-of-19 capturing, was sprinting up the court docket for an opportunity at a fastbreak bucket when he got here up limping close to the basket. The Knicks dominated him out the remainder of the sport with a sore left hamstring, and so they’ll definitely hope it gained’t persist into Friday’s Game 3 matchup on the street. 

The Knicks have been already with out Mitchell Robinson, who discovered he re-injured the ankle that stored him out 50 video games in the common season. He’s possible going to miss the remainder of the playoffs. 

But as Thibodeau mentioned forward of the fourth quarter, the subsequent man simply has to step up. Donte DiVincenzo performed his function with 28 factors, capturing 10-of-20 with six made threes, whereas Isaiah Hartenstein collected 12 rebounds and 14 factors. Josh Hart additionally led the best way in the rebounding division with 15 whereas totaling 19 factors himself. 

(*2*)

New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (11) runs on the court docket after scoring in opposition to the Indiana Pacers in the course of the first half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball second-round playoff collection Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York.  (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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For the Pacers, Andrew Nembhard had 15 factors on 7-of-9 capturing, whereas Obi Toppin led the best way off the bench with 20 factors in opposition to his former crew. T.J. McConnell was additionally pestering Brunson when he returned in the second half on the defensive aspect of the ball. Offensively, he had 10 factors and a team-high 12 assists.

The collection now heads to Indianapolis, the place the Pacers have their backs up in opposition to the partitions a bit down two video games to none because the Knicks fought through accidents to take one other recreation at residence. 

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