Jalen Brunson shakes off injury to lift Knicks to Game 2 win

Brunson’s streak of 40-point games ended at four, but he extended his and the New York Knicks’ playoff win streak to three games with a 130-121 victory. The injury-plagued Knicks held on despite losing OG Anunoby to a hamstring injury late.

The Knicks pulled off the win by getting a lot out of their limited group of available players. Anunoby scored 28 points before his injury. Donte DiVincenzo scored 28 points and made six three-pointers. He also grabbed six rebounds, including an athletic offensive board that led to a Precious Achiuwa dunk.

Josh Hart grabbed 15 rebounds and once again played every second of the game. The Knicks have had eight playoff games. Hart has played the entire game in four of them, including all 53 minutes of an overtime loss. He’s now averaging 46 minutes and 29 seconds per game, and we assume he’ll be running a half marathon during the Knicks’ off day on Thursday.

The Pacers weren’t able to get a win even after Tyrese Haliburton’s 34 points and nine assists. Or T.J. McConnell’s 12 assists in 22 minutes, an impressive effort that still didn’t convince head coach Rick Carlisle to play him down the stretch in the fourth quarter.

It was a tough loss for the Pacers. It also was a tough loss for TNT broadcaster/Knicks villain Reggie Miller. More than 20 years after his last playoff battle with the Knicks, the Madison Square Garden crowd still serenaded Miller with profane chants after the game.

Meanwhile, the Pacers may be cursing themselves for not taking advantage of the banged-up Knicks.