5 40 Point Games For Brunson This Playoffs
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Burke Is Big Off The Bench For NY
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The New York Knicks were left for dead when they left Indianapolis after losing games 3 and 4 especially after the Sunday blowout in which they were outscored by 20 points in the first quarter enroute to a 31-point blowout. The series shifted back to the Worlds Most Famous Arena Tuesday night with the series tied at 2 games with the Pacers having all the momentum. The Knicks, in the immortal words of college football analyst Lee Corso said, “not so fast my little friend.” In one the most physical games New York has played this post season in which 5 technical fouls were called (2 on Indiana and 3 on the Knicks) New York responded behind another outstanding by guard Jalen Brunson who finished the night with 44 points. It was his 5th playoff performance this year scoring 40 or more points. In the end, the Orange and Blue outscored the Pacers in every quarter leading to the 121-91 victory taking a 3-2 series lead with game 6 taking place Friday night back in Indiana.
Said head coach Tom Thibodeau of the physical play, “I think that’s the sort of the nature of the bar in particular as the series goes on,” he began. “Because you’re playing the same guys over and over. I have great respect for them. It’s great competition.”
New York fell behind early (15-9) and cut the lead to (2) 22-20 after a Isaiah Hartenstein short jumper. Indy would go up for the last time 25-20 after a Ben Sheppard basket. The Knicks closed out the quarter 38-32 after a Alec Burks 3-pointer as he finished his night with 18 points off the bench. Said Tibbs of his performance, “Alec were really good for us off the bench and we need that.”
As the Knicks continued to pull away in the second half, the Pacers continued to show their frustration. Up by 20, Donte DiVincenzo electrified the Garden crowd with a put back slam. As he headed up court, he ran into a screen set by Myles Turner. Both players went face to face before being separated. They were both hit with technical fouls. DiVi questioned the toughness of Turner and their team. “They’re trying to be tough guys and that’s not their identity. There is nothing more to that.”
Indiana was paced by Pascal Siakim who scored 22 points with Turner scoring 16. Tyrese Haliburton, who was big in the 2 games in Indiana was held to 13 points.
Josh Hart rebounded from his brutal game 4 performance (hit did not play a minute in the 4th quarter) to score 18 points. Myles “Deuce” McBride pitched in 17. Hartenstein was a beast on the boards snatching 17 rebounds 12 offensively.
After another stellar playoff performance Brunson said, “we just found a way and we needed to go and play as hard as we can. Tat was just our mindset for the entire game.”
The New York Knicks will need that same mindset when they take the floor Friday night in Pacerland. Game 7 will take place at Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon. Anything can happen in a game 7 situation.
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