Jalen Brunson emerged from the locker room with an injured leg. He walked onto the court and unleashed madness on Madison Square Garden, just as Willis Reed had done exactly 54 years ago.
Amid a chorus calling for him to be named Most Valuable Player, Brunson tried to forget about the pain in his body and the noise around him as he warmed up at intermission.
“It was really nice to hear that, but I just knew I had to focus my mind on the right thing to know how I was going to attack in the second half,” Brunson said.
Thats 2-0, ya heard! 🔒 pic.twitter.com/8ng8DejLHU
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 9, 2024
Brunson returned from a right foot injury to score 29 points, including 24 in the second half, leading the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, expanding to 2- 0 the lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Brunson came close to being the second player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in five consecutive playoff games, but the Knicks moved halfway to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. .
OG Anunoby added a playoff career-high 28 points before exiting with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter for the Knicks, who have already lost three key players for the rest of the season due to injuries.
Donte DiVincenzo scored 28 points and Josh Hart had 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for the second-seeded Knicks.
Tyrese Haliburton had 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Pacers, who finished the game without coach Rick Carlisle after receiving two technical fouls and being ejected.
The Pacers made 15 of 22 shots in the second quarter, outscoring the Knicks 37-27 to take a 73-63 lead, but they shot just 10 of 17 (59%) from the free throw line.
The Knicks paid tribute to Reed. His No. 19 jersey and that of his Hall of Fame teammate, Walt Frazier, were illuminated by the spotlight to a standing ovation.
In Game 7 of the 1970 Finals, Reed took the court to lead the Knicks to their first title, despite a serious thigh injury.
The series will continue in Indiana for game three on Friday and game four on Sunday.
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