The New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead but lost another key player to injury, Reggie Miller returned to Madison Square Garden as an announcer and still got booed and the referees had another rough fourth quarter. Here are three stars from Wednesday’s NBA playoff game.
Brunson played only 32 minutes after he injured his foot and missed the second quarter, one that the Knicks lost 37-27. With an injured but still relentless Brunson on the court, New York outscored Indiana by 26 points, on the way to a 130-121 win in Game 2.
Brunson the AND-1... MSG is loving it
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
4Q action live on TNT pic.twitter.com/XgOejM9iNN
New York lost OG Anunoby (28 points) to hamstring soreness in the final quarter, which made Brunson’s performance all that more crucial. He did it without the benefit of the foul calls that got him 14 free throws in Game 1.
In Game 2, Brunson only took six foul shots, four of which were from a clock-stopping foul and two technical fouls in the game’s final seconds.
Brunson did this on the anniversary of Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, when the late Willis Reed, surprised the Los Angeles Lakers by playing with a severe leg injury. As the Knicks keep winning, Brunson is securing a place among the Knicks legends for himself.
DiVincenzo made six three-pointers in Game 2, which would have matched Indiana’s Tyrese Halliburton’s total if not for Hali’s meaningless seventh three with 18 seconds left cut the game’s final margin to 130-121. He has 11 triples in two games, easily the most in the series. But he’s probably prouder about his dunking.
DONTE SLAM pic.twitter.com/Te8C9q9v4K
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2024
He also added six rebounds and four assists. But despite appearances, he did not head to the Knicks locker room to check on Brunson after his first-quarter injury.
Just like when he shoots from behind the arc, DiVincenzo tries to be as accurate as possible.
Donte DiVincenzo was asked if he went to the locker room to check on Jalen Brunson after his injury
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 9, 2024
"I had to go to the bathroom, I ain't gonna lie" pic.twitter.com/gF0dLBbx7J
The Pacers’ backup point guard changed the game when he came in during the first quarter, setting up his teammates for great shots and pushing the pace. McConnell shot 5-for-9, delivered 12 assists and was +10 in his 23 minutes.
T.J. McConnell with a beautiful crossover to finish!
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024
Pacers-Knicks | Game 2 on TNT pic.twitter.com/SjzFpSaiQn
But it was only 23 minutes. When the game got to crunch time, McConnell was a spectator.
The Knicks had a lot of success switching onto Haliburton on Indiana’s pick-and-rolls, but Pacers coach Rick Carlisle thought McConnell’s towel-waving was more important than his playmaking.
All of the Pacers bench players had positive plus-minus ratings, with rookie Blake Sheppard leading the way with a +12 in 20 minutes. Sometimes those numbers can be deceiving, when reserves play against other reserves, but these Knicks play their starters all the time — Josh Hart never sits!
Besides Haliburton, McConnell was the Pacers’ biggest difference-maker in Game 2. He didn’t get a chance to affect the outcome late.
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