Brunson returned from a foot injury and led the Knicks to a 2-0 lead in the playoff series over the Pacers.
Jalen Brunson shrugged off injury to spark a sensational second-half comeback as the New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 130-121 to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NBA playoff series on Wednesday.
New York talisman Brunson gave his team a big 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 open up a 10-point halftime lead and was soon up 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 comeback as the Knicks outscored Indiana 36-18 in the third to take a 99-91 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Knicks then battled deep to maintain their lead in the fourth, outscoring the Pacers 31-30 to close out a famous victory.
Brunson finished with 29 points and five assists, while Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby each scored 28 points.
Josh Hart added 19 points with 15 rebounds, while Isaiah Hartenstein was huge defensively, with 12 rebounds, eight assists and 14 points.
Jalen Brunson lights up in Game 2, scoring 24 of his 29 PTS in the second half, powering the @nyknicks 2-0 series lead! Game three is Friday at 7 pm/time on ESPN.
OG Anunoby: 28 PTS (personal playoff high), 4 3 p.m.
Josh Hart: 19 PTS, 15 REB, 7 AST
Donté DiVincenzo: 28 PTS and 6 3PM… pic.twitter.com/BYPeAh3Nj7—NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
“We found a way, that's all,” Brunson said, exhausted. “For us, it all starts with our habits: we have talked about doing the little things from day one a little better, because you never know when they are going to help you in an important game.
“It's about doing the little things right every day and we're proud of that.”
However, the victory came at a cost for the Knicks, who were already missing injured starters Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic.
In addition to Brunson's injury on Wednesday, the Knicks saw another player injured: Anunoby limped out of the game in the third quarter with a hamstring issue.
Somehow, the Knicks managed to outlast the Pacers, with Brunson pouring in 14 points in the fourth quarter and DiVincenzo adding eight points, including two crucial 3-pointers that helped keep Indiana at bay.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau revealed that the team was unsure if Brunson would continue after missing the second quarter.
“We didn't know if he was going to be able to go or not, but he found a way to do it,” Thibodeau said.
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana scorers with 34 points, while Nembhard finished with 15 points and Pascal Siakam 14. Obi Toppin added 20 off the bench.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was ejected late in the fourth quarter after ranting at the referees following the decision to overturn a double-dribble call against the Knicks' Hartenstein.
Carlisle took aim at the refereeing team after the loss, saying his team had been treated unfairly.
“I'm always talking to our guys so it's not all the refs' fault, but we deserve a fair shot,” Carlisle said. “There is no consistent balance and that is disappointing. You have to give New York credit for the physicality they are playing with. But their physique is rewarded and ours is penalized.”
