Jalen Brunson Leads the Knicks to a Crucial Win in Game 2, Igniting MSG Crowd and Maintaining Eastern Conference Advantage.

On a significant anniversary, Jalen Brunson returned to the court after a right foot injury to lead the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The triumphant comeback ignited the Madison Square Garden crowd and secured a crucial win for the Knicks, giving them a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Despite missing the entire second quarter while the Pacers took the lead, Brunson’s performance in the second half was instrumental for his team’s success.

Brunson fell short of making NBA history with 40 or more points in five straight playoff games but was still an important part of the Knicks’ victory. OG Anunoby also had a standout game with a career playoff-high 28 points, although he left the game in the third quarter due to a left hamstring injury.

Despite numerous injuries, including those that sidelined DiVincenzo and Hart, who are also Villanova teammates of Brunson’s, the Knicks rallied behind their star point guard and his teammates to take a significant lead in the series. The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton and missing their head coach due to ejection, put up a strong fight but ultimately came up short.

The series will now shift to Indiana for Game 3 and Game 4, where the Knicks will look to extend their lead and secure their spot in the Eastern Conference finals.