NEW YORK – Jalen Brunson scored 43 points, becoming the fourth player in NBA history with four straight 40-point games in the postseason, and the Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 121-117 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
“The little things can go a long way,” Brunson said according to AP. “So yeah, the 40 points are cool and all, but it´s the little things that help us win games like that. So I´m just happy to have the group of guys that I do.”
Brunson had 21 in the fourth quarter, rallying the Knicks after they trailed by nine early in the period, and joined Hall of Famers Jerry West, who had six consecutive 40-point games in the postseason, and Michael Jordan and Bernard King (both with four). Jordan did it in the 1993 NBA Finals.
The Pacers then cut it to one, but Myles Turner was called for an offensive foul when DiVincenzo ran into him.
“I just think the way they work, they´ve invested a lot into this season and they put a lot into each and every day,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
“So, when you make that commitment to each other, you´re not going to give in, you´re going to keep fighting. And that´s the great fight. We know we´re short-handed. So, that´s our way.”
