Jalen Brunson makes a triumphant return from injury, igniting the Knicks to claim a commanding 2-0 lead.
In the heart of New York City, the echoes of Madison Square Garden resounded through the corridors as Isaiah Hartenstein, center for the New York Knicks, attested to hearing the deafening roar from the locker room.
Jalen Brunson, who had departed with a right foot injury late in the first quarter of Wednesday night's Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, defied the odds and returned to the hallowed court during halftime, determined to persevere through the pain.
As he emerged through the tunnel, the eruption of the crowd pierced through the air. The thunderous ovation was so palpable that Hartenstein and his teammates could feel its reverberation even from the confines of their lockers. Brunson, amidst the cacophony, implored the fans to temper their enthusiasm, craving the mental clarity needed to assess his foot.
The resounding MVP chants, akin to a beacon of hope, signaled Brunson's resurgence, ready to lead the charge. True to expectations, Brunson's comeback injected renewed vigor into the undermanned Knicks in the second half. Their resilience in the face of adversity propelled them to a stirring comeback, overcoming multiple injuries to vanquish the Pacers 130-121, securing a commanding 2-0 series lead in the conference semifinals.
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"Jalen Brunson is a tremendous leader, and the players all recognize and respect his commitment to giving his all for the team," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau commended. "Actions speak louder than words, and Jalen's actions demonstrate his deep care for his teammates and the team as a whole."
However, New York's victory came at a cost as the series transitions to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4. Star defender OG Anunoby, who delivered a playoff career-high 28 points in just 28 minutes of action, was sidelined with a left hamstring injury during the third period and did not return. Thibodeau indicated that he had yet to confer with the team's medical staff regarding the severity of Anunoby's injury.
The Knicks' injury woes provided opportunities for Indiana, and the Pacers capitalized on New York's struggles to generate offense in Brunson's absence. Fueled by Tyrese Haliburton's resurgence after a lackluster Game 1 and T.J. McConnell's adept playmaking, Indiana seized control in the final 15 minutes of the first half, embarking on a commanding 56-39 run while Brunson was sidelined. As a result, the Pacers held a 73-63 lead at halftime.
Nonetheless, reminiscent of Willis Reed's iconic return to the court in the 1970 NBA Finals, Brunson tested his foot and elicited a thunderous ovation upon his reemergence, echoing throughout the Knicks' locker room.
"It was an incredible moment, but I knew I had to focus on regaining my mindset for the second half," Brunson reflected on the MVP chants from the fans.
"He's a true warrior," affirmed Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo, who contributed 28 points. "There was never any doubt in my mind that he would come back."
Brunson's presence, coupled with the Pacers' attempts to contain him, swiftly shifted the momentum of the game. Within the opening five and a half minutes of the second half, New York orchestrated a remarkable 15-point swing to claim a five-point lead.
Like Game 1, the contest was fraught with back-and-forth exchanges and contentious moments. With the Knicks ahead 124-118, the Pacers pressed Hartenstein in the backcourt, prompting an official to signal a double dribble violation against Hartenstein, which would have awarded possession to the Pacers. However, following a brief deliberation, the referees reversed the call, ruling it an inadvertent whistle and returning possession to the Knicks.
Shortly thereafter, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was ejected after receiving two technical fouls.
This decision to overturn the initial double dribble call came after the Pacers were previously disadvantaged by an unreviewable kicked ball violation in Game 1's final minute. Despite Indiana's valiant efforts throughout Game 2, particularly with Haliburton's stellar performance (34 points, nine assists), a hobbled Brunson (29 points), and Anunoby's untimely departure in the third quarter, the Knicks managed to secure the victory.
The latest setback adds to the list of challenges faced by the New York squad throughout the season. Just one day prior to their Game 2 triumph, backup center Mitchell Robinson was sidelined for six to eight weeks due to an ankle injury, effectively ending his postseason run. This setback followed closely on the heels of wing Bojan Bogdanovic being ruled out for the remainder of the campaign due to wrist and foot surgeries, a blow delivered just a week prior. Additionally, the team had already suffered the loss of two-time All-NBA forward Julius Randle earlier in the season, when he dislocated his shoulder in late January.
With the roster depleted, Coach Thibodeau was compelled to rely heavily on his starters in recent weeks. Tuesday's game marked the fourth occasion that Josh Hart logged a full 48 minutes of play this postseason, a feat not seen since the tenure of Thibodeau-coached Jimmy Butler in 2013.
In Anunoby's situation, his playing time had surged to an average of 46 minutes in the four games leading up to Tuesday, marking the highest average over a four-game span in his career, according to ESPN Stats & Informatio.
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