Jalen Brunson made Knicks history Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a crushing 114-109 home loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The star guard passed Knicks legend Patrick Ewing for the most 30-point playoff games in franchise history, notching his 18th such performance since joining New York last year.
Brunson was spectacular, pouring in 36 points while dishing out 11 assists in 39 minutes. He shot 13-of-27 from the field and knocked down five three-pointers.
But individual milestones mean little in the playoffs.
“We’re in the conference finals,” Brunson said after the game. “Nothing else matters right now. We’re playing in a high-stakes moment. The mental focus – everything – has to be there.”
The loss puts New York in a dangerous 2-0 hole in the best-of-seven series, with both defeats coming on their home court.
Brunson had a chance to tie the game with eight seconds left but missed a long three-pointer that would have completed a late comeback attempt.
The Pacers dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Knicks 33-28 to seal the win.
Pacers Stars Shine Bright
Pascal Siakam torched the Knicks defense for a playoff career-high 39 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists.
Myles Turner came up huge when it mattered most, scoring 13 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help Indiana pull away.
Thibodeau’s Controversial Decision
In a move that raised eyebrows, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau benched Karl-Anthony Towns for much of the crucial moments down the stretch.
Towns finished with 20 points and seven rebounds but played just 28 minutes as Thibodeau opted to go with backup center Mitchell Robinson, who grabbed nine rebounds.
“Just, we got in a hole, and then the group that was in there gave us a chance,” Thibodeau explained after the game. “So we were just riding [that lineup]. We’re searching for a win.”
Mikal Bridges matched Towns with 20 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.
History Not on Knicks’ Side
The odds are now stacked heavily against New York. NBA teams that fall behind 2-0 in conference finals have a dismal 6-76 all-time record in those series.
Even more concerning? No team in NBA history has ever lost the first two games at home in the conference finals and come back to win the series.
The Knicks will need to make history if they hope to advance, and they’ll have to start that comeback on the road.
Indiana hosts Game 3 on Sunday night, with the Pacers looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
