The Eastern Conference Finals didn’t start the way the New York Knicks had hoped. They squandered their home-court advantage and dropped the first two games at Madison Square Garden to the Indiana Pacers. Still, Jalen Brunson delivered standout performances in both contests, allowing him to match a record held by LeBron James.
In the 138-135 loss in Game 1, Brunson led the Knicks with 43 points, and on Friday night he once again stood out, posting 36 points, 11 assists, and 3 rebounds in 39 minutes. Despite his effort, it wasn’t enough to prevent Indiana from taking a 114-109 win.
However, the 79 points Jalen scored across the two games marked an achievement not seen in the NBA for 16 years: the last player to score that many or more in consecutive Eastern Conference Finals games was LeBron during the 2008-09 season.
Back then, James led the Cleveland Cavaliers on a deep playoff run, sweeping the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks in the opening rounds before facing the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals. At Quicken Loans Arena in Ohio, the forward (who was 24 at the time) dazzled with performances of 49 and 35 points.
Jalen Brunson is leading the New York Knicks in the postseason
That, however, wasn’t enough to give the Cavaliers the upper hand, as they traveled to Amway Arena in Orlando with the series tied 1-1. It proved to be a tough trip: they lost both games there and, after a home win, dropped the series in Florida. Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers would go on to defeat the Magic in the NBA Finals and claim the title.
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The Knicks face a tough situation
Being down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals after playing both games at Madison Square Garden puts the Knicks in a tough and unexpected position. They now head to Indiana needing at least one win on the road to keep their hopes alive of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in 26 years.
As daunting as the challenge might seem, Karl-Anthony Towns appears confident they can pull it off. “What did I told y’all about with the word history? I’m not here to repeat it, we’re here to make it,” he told the media after the Game 2 loss. “If I’ve learned anything, especially last year, as quick as you win two games is as quick as you can lose two games.”
The Knicks have a promising stat
Throughout this postseason, the Knicks have actually performed better on the road than at Madison Square Garden. Counting their series against the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and now the Pacers, they hold a 3-5 record when playing in New York. But on the road, things have gone more smoothly: they boast a strong 5-1 mark, with their only loss coming in Boston.
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