Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks have taken a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Indiana Pacers were defeated 121:117.
The duel was very close from start to finish. Every basket was crucial, and the fact that neither team had a double-digit lead speaks volumes about how intense the game was. After the first 12 minutes, the score was 27-24.
Then the momentum shifted slightly in favor of the visitors. They were in the lead for most of the second quarter and had a nine-point advantage at one point. A crucial moment in the game was Isaiah Hartenstein’s half-court three-pointer that capped off the first half.
Rick Carlisle’s players held the lead for most of the next period. It wasn’t a big lead, but in NBA playoff basketball, every lead matters.
They maintained it until midway through the final quarter. That’s when the “King of New York” emerged. Jalen Brunson scored an impressive 22 points in this part of the game, playing his game with no solution in sight for the opponents. He hit a crucial three-pointer to make it 109-104, but the game wasn’t over yet, and it tightened to 118-117, keeping the outcome uncertain. However, Myles Turner fouled the New York Knicks’ point guard on a three-point attempt. He made all three free throws, putting the team from the “Big Apple” ahead 1-0 in the series.
Brunson finished with 43 points, along with six rebounds and six assists. Donte DiVincenzo scored 25 points, while Josh Hart contributed 24 points and 13 rebounds. Turner had 23 points, and Pascal Siakam scored 19. Brunson joined Michael Jordan as the only players to have four consecutive play-off games with 40 or more points