NEW YORK – In a night that encapsulated the resilience and determination that have defined the New York Knicks’ remarkable season, it was Jalen Brunson’s courageous return from injury that ignited the team’s comeback victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

The scene was set at the iconic Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks found themselves trailing the Pacers at halftime, 73-63. 

However, the real drama unfolded during the intermission, as Brunson, the Knicks’ star point guard, emerged from the locker room to test his injured right foot, which had forced him to exit the game late in the first quarter.

As Brunson stepped onto the court, a deafening roar erupted from the Knicks faithful, a sound so powerful that it reverberated all the way back to the locker room, where his teammates could hear the thunderous ovation. 

“It was really cool, but I just knew I had to get my mind in the right place to figure out how I was going to attack in the second half,” Brunson later recalled, describing the moment the fervent crowd greeted him with chants of “MVP.”

Brunson’s mere presence on the court seemed to galvanize the Knicks, who had been struggling to generate offense without their floor general. 

Within the first five and a half minutes of the second half, New York had already engineered a 15-point swing, seizing a five-point lead and turning the tide of the game.

“He’s a warrior,” said Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo, who finished with 28 points. “There was no doubt in my mind he’d be back.”

Brunson’s return was a testament to his tenacity and leadership, qualities that have endeared him to his teammates and coaches alike. 

“He’s a great leader, and the players all have respect for that when a guy tries to give whatever he has. It says a lot about him,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “To me, the actions say a lot more than the words. It says that you care a lot about your team and your teammates.”

The victory, however, came at a cost, as the Knicks’ star defender OG Anunoby suffered a left hamstring injury in the third quarter and was forced to leave the game.

Anunoby, who had a playoff career-high 28 points in his 28 minutes on the court, hobbled to the locker room, and Thibodeau acknowledged that he had yet to receive an update on the severity of the injury.

The Knicks’ health struggles have been a recurring theme throughout the season, with Mitchell Robinson ruled out for six to eight weeks with an ankle injury just a day before Game 2, and Bojan Bogdanovic and Julius Randle already sidelined for the remainder of the postseason due to injuries.

Despite these setbacks, the Knicks refused to back down, with players like Josh Hart (19 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists) logging massive minutes to compensate for the depleted roster. 

Hart became the first player since Thibodeau-coached Jimmy Butler in 2013 to play all 48 minutes of a game four times in a single postseason.

The game was not without controversy, as a questionable officiating decision late in the fourth quarter nearly turned the tide in Indiana’s favor. 

With the Knicks up 124-118 and just over a minute remaining, the referees initially signaled a double dribble violation on Hartenstein, which would have given possession to the Pacers. 

However, after a brief huddle, the officials ruled it an inadvertent whistle, allowing the Knicks to retain possession.

The decision drew the ire of Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who was issued two technical fouls and ejected from the game.

Despite the drama and the adversity they faced, the Knicks persevered, claiming a 2-0 series lead over the Pacers. 

As they head to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4, the team’s resilience and unwavering spirit, embodied by Brunson’s heroic return, will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration and motivation.

In a season filled with challenges and setbacks, the Knicks have proven time and again that they possess the mental fortitude and determination to overcome any obstacle. 

With Brunson leading the charge and the unwavering support of their dedicated fans, the Knicks are poised to continue their quest for postseason glory, one gritty performance at a time.

The Information is Collected from CBS Sports and USA Today