"Knicks Triumph in Game 1 Behind Jalen Brunson's Leadership Against Pacers"

"Knicks Triumph in Game 1 Behind Jalen Brunson's Leadership Against Pacers"
Jalen Brunson maintained his exceptional playoff performance by scoring 43 points in his fourth consecutive game with over 40 points as the New York Knicks defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers 121-117 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second-round series on Monday night. Donte DiVincenzo contributed 25 points, with 21 coming in the second half, while Josh Hart added 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists for New York. Isaiah Hartenstein and OG Anunoby each scored 13 points, with Anunoby also grabbing nine rebounds. Myles Turner led the Pacers with 23 points, followed by Pascal Siakam with 19 points and T.J. McConnell with 18 points. Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin scored 12 points each, and Andrew Nembhard added 11 points. Game 2 will take place on Wednesday night in New York. Brunson joined elite company as the fourth player in NBA playoff history to achieve four consecutive games of scoring 40 or more points. Previously, Jerry West accomplished this feat six times in 1965, while Bernard King (1984) and Michael Jordan (1993) did it in four straight games. In the crucial moments of the game, DiVincenzo's 3-pointer gave the Knicks a 118-115 lead with 40.4 seconds left. Indiana closed the gap to one point on Siakam's layup with 26.6 seconds remaining but failed to capitalize on a chance to take the lead due to a foul called on Turner. Brunson secured the win with successful free throws in the closing seconds. New York shot 53.7 percent from the field, including 11 of 23 from beyond the arc, while Indiana made 52.3 percent of their field goal attempts and 10 of 26 from 3-point range. Brunson's pivotal seven points during a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter helped the Knicks secure their first lead in the final period. Nesmith and Siakam later tied the score at 113, but Brunson's clutch plays ensured a 121-117 victory for New York.
Indiana had a strong start with a 55-49 lead at halftime, extending it to 87-82 by the end of the third quarter. McConnell and Brunson were the leading scorers for their respective teams in the first half.
#NBA #Playoffs #JalenBrunson #NewYorkKnicks #IndianaPacers #Game1 #EasternConference #DonteDiVincenzo #JoshHart #IsaiahHartenstein #OGAnunoby #MylesTurner #PascalSiakam #TJMcConnell #AaronNesmith #ObiToppin #AndrewNembhard #JerryWest #BernardKing #MichaelJordan #Basketball #Sports