Jalen Brunson’s exceptional performance once again lifted the New York Knicks, this time pushing them to the cusp of the Eastern Conference finals. “Jalen Brunson has done it again, and the New York Knicks are on the brink of the Eastern Conference finals,” highlighted the game’s recap.
In Tuesday night’s clash at Madison Square Garden, Brunson’s scoring prowess led the Knicks to a commanding 121-91 victory against the Indiana Pacers, bringing them to a 3-2 lead in the series, via Fox Sports.
From the outset, the Knicks established dominance with a first-quarter lead they never relinquished. Brunson dazzled the home crowd with 28 points by halftime, concluding the night with a total of 44 points, along with seven assists and four rebounds. His shooting accuracy was notable, making 18 out of 35 field goal attempts, including two from beyond the arc. This game marked Brunson’s fifth 40-point performance in the playoffs, a feat not seen since LeBron James in 2018, and he currently averages 33.9 points per game this postseason, reported by CBS Sports.
The Pacers momentarily narrowed the gap when Brunson was benched in the second quarter, but upon his return, the Knicks swiftly regained control with a 9-0 run, prompting a Pacers timeout. The first half ended with the Knicks ahead by 15 points. Despite a brief surge by Pacers’ Myles Turner in the third quarter, New York quickly reestablished a significant lead, with Brunson’s early second-half three-pointer kickstarting another scoring run.
As the game progressed, every Pacers attempt at a comeback was effectively countered by Brunson, including a crucial stretch where he scored seven consecutive points. “He responded with seven straight points in a 9-0 Knicks run to once again thwart a Pacers comeback effort,” was the talk of the game. His scoring feat reached its peak with an acrobatic scoop shot that drew MVP chants from the crowd at MSG.
Beyond Brunson, the Knicks demonstrated a strong team performance, notably in rebounding, where they led the Pacers 53-29. Isaiah Hartenstein was a standout with 17 rebounds, 12 of which were offensive, helping secure multiple second-chance points for the Knicks. Josh Hart also contributed significantly with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double.
While the Knicks flourished, the Pacers struggled, with All-Star Tyrese Haliburton unable to make a significant impact, echoing his performance from the series’ first game. With the series returning to Indiana for Game 6, the Pacers face a crucial challenge to extend their postseason hopes and force a decisive Game 7 back in New York.