Despite having had difficulties in several passages of the game, the New York Knicks showed enough character not only to survive the rival offenses, but to overcome them with their own arsenal to end up sealing a great 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers, and thus extending their lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series in the NBA Playoffs.
Jalen Brunson suffered foot discomfort and OG Anunoby retired with a hamstring injury, but not even those losses prevented the New Yorkers from lowering their arms, since Brunson, who had 4 games in a row with more than 40 points, closed his memorable evening with 29 points and 5 assists after coming out in the first quarter and not playing the second until after the intermission.
These Knicks, who have made rage and suffering their DNA, are experts in Numantine resistance. But Tom Thibodeau’s extreme and usually reduced rotation showed its face again. Donte DiVincenzo added 28 points and 6 rebounds, Josh Hart (19 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists) and Isaiah Hartenstein (14 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists) reached the triple-double.
The Knicks entered the court the only way they know how: biting and giving their lives in every play. Anunoby, fundamental in the local defense, emerged on offense with 12 points in that first quarter in which the New York team won by 11.
However, the appearance of double digits was a breath of fresh air for the Pacers. Obi Toppin shone with 10 points and accompanied a now aggressive Tyrese Haliburton with 13 points (in the entire first game he only added 6).
This give and take, with a high rhythm that benefited the Pacers, ended in a draw: 36-36. With the melancholy of not seeing Brunson either on the court or on the bench, the Knicks lost ground to a Haliburton who took command.
The construction of triumph
With 9 points and 3 assists from the point guard in that period, Indiana added fuel to the fire of its always choral offense and faced the break with an interesting advantage (63-73) and the ‘tempo’ of the game clearly on its side.
But Brunson’s unexpected return was a boost in morale for these Knicks who are guided more by heart than by logic. A fabulous 21-6 run in just over five minutes, with 10 points from an omnipresent DiVincenzo, returned command to the Knicks amid the euphoria of their fans (84-79 with 6.41 on the clock).
The Pacers seemed moribund and Anunoby’s injury did not stop the New Yorkers, who with 10 points from the ‘resurrected’ Brunson closed a masterful third quarter (36-18 for 99-91 in total). TJ McConnell, Indiana’s official agitator, got to work and a 3-10 run left Rick Carlisle’s team just a stone’s throw away (102-101 with 8.02 ahead).
But Indiana once again floundered on defense and defensive rebounding, allowing Brunson and DiVincenzo to cap off another night of fireworks in New York.
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