Things were looking bleak for the New York Knicks when Jalen Brunson, their MVP all season, didn’t play the entire second quarter due to injury.
But when Brunson returned in the second half, the Knicks returned to form to defeat the Indiana Pacers in Game 2, 130-121, to take a two-game lead in their second round series in the NBA Playoffs.
New York battled back from 10 points down at halftime thanks to Brunson’s efforts. He led the Knicks once again in the points department, though he wasn’t able to make it five straight postseason contests with 40 or more points.
Brunson finished with 29 on 11-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point territory, while dishing five assists and tallying three steals.
“I’m just happy I did, to be honest with you. We found a way,” Brunson said after the game to TNT about returning to the game.
When Brunson went out, Madison Square Garden couldn’t figure out why and it led the raucous Knicks faithful to murmur. It was then where the Pacers started to change the tune of the game, outscoring the Knicks with fastbreak buckets and wide open three-pointers. They won the second quarter in the box score, 37-27, to score 73 first-half points
Tyrese Haliburton was a key factor in the Pacers’ charge, as he had a much better game offensively than Game 1, where he had just six points with six total shots. Haliburton finished with a game-high 34 points with seven three-pointers made, including five in the first half.
But MSG erupted when Brunson came out with a few minutes left in halftime to warm up, and after testing that foot, he told head coach Tom Thibodeau he was ready to get back in there.
