NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 11: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks heads for the net as Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers defends in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden on January 11, 2023 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 119-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Jalen Brunson continues to prove doubters wrong in big Knicks win
After blowing a lead to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, the New York Knicks bounced back in a big way against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, winning 119-113. This was a much-needed win, as the Knicks are now the sixth seed in the East and have won five of their last six.
Not only did the Knicks get a big win, but they also got RJ Barrett back from injury, who contributed to this win in a big way. We saw even more dominance from Jalen Brunson, who has been on an absolute tear recently.
These two have been vital to the Knicks’ victories all season, so it was nice to see them both not miss a step when playing with one another. The Knicks have some very winnable games coming up on their schedule, so these two, alongside Julius Randle, must keep it up if they want to keep this hot streak going.
Jalen Brunson’s hot streak continues as Knicks top Pacers
As I mentioned before, Jalen Brunson has been on a tear and this game was no different. In 42 minutes of play, Brunson scored 34 points, four assists, and three rebounds while shooting 11-of-20 from the field and 3-of-4 from three.
This is the fourth game in a row in which Brunson has scored 25+ points, and in all but one of those games, the Knicks came out victorious. At this point, there is no reason for him to not be in the All-Star Game.
In 38 games this season, Brunson is averaging 21.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists while shooting 46.9% from the field and 38.1% from behind the arc on 4.4 attempts. He has been the most consistent player on a playoff team and people are starting to notice.
Alongside Brunson’s masterclass, Barrett had himself a solid showcase after missing the Knicks’ previous six games with a finger injury. In Wednesday’s game against the Pacers, he racked up 27 points, five rebounds, and two assists while shooting 9-of-23 from the field and 4-of-12 from three.
This was not Barrett’s most efficient game, but a 27-point performance in a victory is hard to complain about. Hopefully, he can continue to improve as he gets back into the groove of things in New York’s next couple of games.
This game likely served as more of a test to see how the starting lineup would perform with one another since the Knicks finally have their big three back together on the court, so we can hope to continue to see more efficient performances from both Barrett and Randle.
The Knicks’ next six games consist of zero teams with a record of .500 or above. Considering that they have won five of their last six, this is a big chance for the team to swing their fate and move up the Eastern Conference standings even further, cementing themselves as a legitimate playoff threat.
