Jalen Brunson returned to the court after a right foot injury and led the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers, giving the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Brunson scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half, helping his team secure a crucial win.
On the significant anniversary of Willis Reed’s heroic return during the 1970 NBA Finals, Brunson’s comeback ignited the Madison Square Garden crowd. Despite missing the entire second quarter while the Pacers took the lead, Brunson’s performance in the second half was crucial for the Knicks.
Despite numerous injuries, including missing their head coach due to ejection, Tyrese Haliburton put up a strong fight for Indiana. However, OG Anunoby had an impressive game with a career playoff-high 28 points before leaving due to a left hamstring injury. Together with Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart, Brunson led his Villanova teammates to an important victory for the Knicks.
The series will now shift to Indiana for Game 3 and Game 4 as both teams look to extend their lead and secure their spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
