A Nail-Biting Victory for the Knicks
In the first game of the second round of the NBA playoffs, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a narrow 121-117 victory over the Pacers with an astonishing performance, scoring 43 points and securing a 1-0 lead in the series.
Different Paths to Round 2
After eliminating the 76ers in the first round, the Knicks faced the Pacers, who had upset the Bucks in the previous series.
Brunson’s Strong Start
Brunson, the leader of the Knicks, made a strong start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and leading the team alongside Josh Hart to establish an early lead.
Pacers Fight Back
Despite the Knicks’ strong start, the Pacers found their rhythm, with T.J. McConnell contributing 10 points off the bench to help the team take the lead in the second quarter. However, a clutch three-pointer from Isaiah Hartenstein helped the Knicks narrow the gap, with the Pacers leading 55-49 at halftime.
Knicks Rally in the Fourth Quarter
In the second half, the Pacers’ Obi Toppin’s consecutive dunks boosted the team’s momentum, but the Knicks relentlessly chased them down in the final quarter. With less than 3 minutes left, the Knicks capitalized on Pacers’ mistakes to take a 4-point lead, leading to a back-and-forth battle between the two teams.
Brunson’s Historic Performance
In the final 39 seconds, Donte Divincenzo’s three-pointer gave the Knicks a crucial 3-point lead. Although the Pacers quickly narrowed the gap to 2 points, they made several crucial mistakes in the closing seconds, allowing the Knicks to secure the victory.
Brunson’s Record-Breaking Streak
In an outstanding display of skill, Jalen Brunson scored 43 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting 14-of-26 from the field and a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line. With this performance, Brunson became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1993 to score over 40 points in four consecutive playoff games. Additionally, Brunson’s total of 210 points in the last five playoff games is the most since Jordan’s record in 1993. He also became the first player in NBA history to record 40 points and 5 assists in four consecutive playoff games, and the fifth player after Robertson, Jordan, Bryant, and James to accumulate 30 points and 5 assists in five consecutive playoff games. (Panalo999)