Jalen Brunson returns from injury, sparks Knicks to 2-0 lead over Pacers

[{"selector":"#anim-721f69fa-67c7-46ef-97c0-29789fd6354f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51951efc-ca65-4ec8-915b-483292abc3ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2163.24754%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f331744b-11f2-4b7e-a98b-e1caf53eb498","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4ab4806-cf2a-4e76-a588-91648ae19995","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -2432.47875%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b981c822-ab44-404a-ada7-68a916d29d87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33bca293-6f0c-40cf-adc2-eb0fd3c52ef2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -157.19611%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-ac8d2203-67a2-4ba3-871f-1e904bb9f232","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a8a60d1-5698-4e47-b19f-6891db49346d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 130-121 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference playoffs as Jalen Brunson returned from a right foot injury and scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half.

[{"selector":"#anim-4a152924-f076-4cf9-8a4c-b3d0d2ccc5ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-860d2dc2-8941-484a-a0ba-674dddaefa3c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow Brunson's halftime warmup after missing the second quarter while the Pacers took a double-digit lead enthralled the Madison Square Garden crowd on the anniversary of Willis Reed's dramatic locker room comeback to win the 1970 NBA Finals.

[{"selector":"#anim-ffa89eaf-92f3-4a87-8a94-b6fb762f1326","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa604f27-9aaa-4340-8501-a1044572f015","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow He failed to become the second NBA player to score 40 or more points in five consecutive playoff games, but he put the Knicks halfway to their first Eastern Conference finals trip since 2000.

[{"selector":"#anim-757a1106-6283-4dce-bfee-66f7fe6537f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e591fd9-62ad-4dac-9c4e-39b978c5f904","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow For the injury-plagued Knicks, OG Anunoby scored a career playoff-high 28 points before exiting with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter. Three crucial players have ended the season with injuries.

[{"selector":"#anim-f1b8fa51-b18e-4c3b-94f2-dfd129cd3de1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8805513d-bcbf-46cf-a246-8c7cdd12b0b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow Brunson returned and his two Villanova teammates worked hard again. Donte DiVincenzo scored 28 points and Josh Hart had 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists for the No. 2-seeded Knicks.

[{"selector":"#anim-c95891d2-355b-4d00-8a47-eb180accc6d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-892efc41-a059-4569-bdc3-6c76a1696fa1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow For the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton returned from a disappointing Game 1 with 34 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Coach Rick Carlisle was removed after two technical fouls.

[{"selector":"#anim-2e149c1d-8cce-4c1d-9a94-7e3a967aa112","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b03f5b1-0e86-4bf8-8630-e788a8fa0521","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow Former Knicks big Obi Toppin added 20 points in another solid effort by Indiana's reserves, but the Pacers shot 10-for-17 (59%) from the free throw line.

[{"selector":"#anim-5fba217c-f358-465e-8b37-bb920f568ed1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14ea9c92-213f-4419-9a8f-cd0272a314a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More Arrow Knicks supporters jeered Pacers Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, a 1990s opponent from this postseason rivalry who was calling the game for TNT, amid a wild conclusion to an anxious first half after Brunson missed the whole second quarter.