Jalen Brunson made a remarkable achievement in the NBA playoffs, scoring 43 points and becoming only the fourth player ever to have four consecutive 40-point games. His outstanding performance helped the New York Knicks secure a 121-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night.
Brunson’s incredible effort included scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, leading a comeback for the Knicks who were down by nine earlier in the period. He now shares this prestigious record with basketball legends Jerry West, Michael Jordan, and Bernard King.
Donte DiVincenzo made a crucial 3-pointer that broke the tie with just 39 seconds left in the game, contributing 25 points to the Knicks’ victory.
The game was filled with suspenseful moments, reminiscent of their intense first-round win against Philadelphia. Josh Hart also had an impressive game, achieving a playoff career-high of 24 points, along with 13 rebounds and eight assists.
The Knicks, seeded second, will host Game 2 on Wednesday, looking to maintain their momentum in the series.
Despite the loss, Myles Turner stood out for the sixth-seeded Pacers, scoring 23 points. They displayed strong performance from their bench and seemed poised to replicate their success from the first round against Milwaukee by taking the lead against the Knicks.
