Banged up and all, Jalen Brunson willed the New York Knicks to a gutsy, grind-out victory at home.
Two more wins, and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance awaits.
Brunson shrugged off a sore right foot and finished with 29 points, leading the Knicks to a gutsy 130-121 Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers to seize a 2-0 lead in their highly-entertaining semifinals series.
Jalen Brunson dropped 24 of his 29 PTS in the 2nd half to lead the @nyknicks the huge Game 2 victory!
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
29 PTS | 5 AST | 3 STL | 3 3PM | 61.1 FG%
Knicks take a 2-0 series lead 🗽 pic.twitter.com/BLR3PkFXbX
Game 4 is on Saturday (PH time), as the series now shifts to Indianapolis.
Brunson exited the opening frame after tweaking his right foot while on defense and did not play in the entire second quarter, but came back roaring in the second half.
Jalen Brunson left the game in the first quarter after an apparent foot injury.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2024
He's now BACK to start the second half 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Tluvtz2px3
The former All-Star poured 24 points in the final two quarters, including the dagger floater with 41 seconds left to give the Knicks a 126-118 lead.
BRUNSON hits the TOUGH turnaround for 25 PTS 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
Under 2 to play... Knicks seeking a 2-0 series lead on TNT pic.twitter.com/TMlwf8AJL9
Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Jart, Brunson’s college teammates, came up big as they have been all playoffs long with timely buckets and hustle plays.
DiVincenzo collected 28 points, six rebounds, and six triples while Hart mustered a double-double of 19 markers, 15 boards and seven dimes.
OG Anunoby scored 22 of his 28 points in the first half, but exited the game in the closing moments of the third frame due to a sore left hamstring.
OG Anunoby suffered an apparent leg injury while attempting a transition layup. He went back to the Knicks locker room.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 9, 2024
Hope he's alright🙏pic.twitter.com/OS4FL3hwO2
OG Anunoby is up to 20 PTS midway through the second quarter 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
Pacers-Knicks | Game 2 on TNT pic.twitter.com/RBxmWfhoGA
After trailing 73-63 in the second quarter, the Knicks zoomed into a fiery start in the third, riding a 20-4 run to turn a 75-64 deficit to a 84-79 lead.
20-4 run puts NYK up 5 in Game 2 on TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/5MvHF0TC4q
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
The Knicks held their ground in the fourth despite the Pacers’ multiple comeback attempts in the final frame and moved halfway to their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2000.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton rebounded from a poor Game 1 with 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Pacers, who finished the game without coach Rick Carlisle after he got two technical fouls and was ejected.
Haliburton got going early and dropped 22 points built on five treys as Indiana took a double-digit halftime lead.
Make that 5 triples for 22 PTS for Hali 👀#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel https://t.co/4A4bdnzoTs pic.twitter.com/cL80zeYBNg
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
Obi Toppin added 20 and Andrew Nembhard chipped in 15 and Pascal Siakam had 14.
Despite leading by as many as 12 and shooting 51 percent from the field, Indiana got outrebounded anew, 52-41.
Game 3 on May 11, Saturday, will air at 7 a.m. LIVE on NBA TV Philippines and the Pilipinas Live app.
