Player Injury Doesn't Block New York Knicks Beating Indiana Pacers 2-0 On NBA Play Off

New York forward Knicks Brunson #11 and Indiana Pacers guard Myles Turner #33 while competing in the second half of the Playoff Round (photo: dock. between)

JAKARTA - The New York Knicks continued to show their dominance in the semifinals of the Eastern Region, despite being hit by various injuries to their key players. In their second match against Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden New York, Thursday 9 May, the Knicks won with a score of 130-121, cementing a 2-0 lead in the series of matches.

Knicks won with a score of 130-121 in the second half of the semifinals even though his star Jalen Brunson and OG Ananoby had to suffer an injury. Brunson, who scored 29 points, picked up an injury in the first four minutes of the game. He held pain in his left thigh and couldn't continue the game throughout the second quarter. But Brunson started the warm-up at half-time and continued the last two quarters by contributing the 24 points he scored in the third and fourth quarters, out of a total of 29 points. "I feel uncomfortable, and as soon as I warm up, I know I will return to play. I have to make a decision and I have made a decision," Brunson said as quoted from the NBA's official website.Brunson, who recorded a record as the fourth player in NBA history to score 40 points in four consecutive playoff matches, was unable to continue the feat due to injury.

Ketidakhadiran Brunson di kuarter kedua sungguh sangat memengaruhi jalannya laga. Knicks yang pada kuarter pertama sudah unggul sampai 11 poin, harus tertinggal sampai 12 poin di kuarter kedua.Cedera Knicks diperparah dengan kehilangan OG Anunoby di kuarter tiga karena cedera hamstring kiri meski dia telah menambahkan 28 poin untuk timnya. Namun kehadiran kembali Brunson di babak kedua masih bisa mempertahankan keunggulan Knicks hingga akhir laga.Tyrese Haliburton mencetak 34 poin untuk Pacers, Obi Toppin 20 poin, Andrew Nembhard 15 poin, Pascal Siakam 14 poin, Ben Sheppard 11 poin, dan T.J. McConnell 10 poin serta 12 assist. Laga ketiga antara Knicks melawan Pacers akan beralih ke Indianapolis pada Sabtu 11 Mei.