‘Wahoo. One down, next!’ – Fans react as New York Knicks wins Game 1 in semi-final

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night, the New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 121-117, led by 43 points from Jalen Brunson, who made NBA history by becoming the fourth player to record four straight 40-point games in the postseason.

After trailing by nine points early in the fourth quarter, Jalen Brunson scored 21 points to tie Hall of Famers Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Bernard King, and Jerry West, who had six straight 40-point performances in the postseason. 

Donte DiVincenzo hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 39 seconds left and scored 25 points for the Knicks, who began the second round with the same sort of tense finish as their first-round triumph over Philadelphia 76ers. Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 24 points and added 13 rebounds and eight assists.

Brunson easily outperformed teammate All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, the NBA's assists leader, who ended with six points and eight assists despite being labeled as doubtful due to back spasms. Pascal Siakam scored 19 points for Indiana, while T.J. McConnell added 18, leading a bench that outscored New York 46-3. 

New York Knicks got early advantage

The bench is not a top priority for the Knicks, who will ride Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo as far as they can go. Hart played the full 48 minutes, DiVincenzo 44, and Brunson 43. It was enough to give the Knicks an early lead, their first in a series after the first round since the 2000 East semifinals against Miami.

McConnell's shot put it 94-85 with roughly 10 1/2 minutes left, bringing an early end to Brunson's rest. He returned to launch an 8-0 run that put the Knicks back in the game, and after Indiana regained the lead 109-104 with 4:27 left, he scored seven points in a 9-0 run that gave New York a 113-109 advantage. 

Indiana Pacers went back up 115-113 before Brunson knotted it and DiVincenzo shot from outside the arc for the lead, much as he did in a Game 2 comeback victory over the 76ers. On Wednesday, Game 2 will be hosted by the second-seeded Knicks.

Here are twitter reaction on this News:

Let's go Knicks!!! What a grind out win!!! #nyknicks

— RadhaGasT (@mon20tarrosa) May 7, 2024

I need to see the Knicks win the NBA Championship so badly

— Blissful Fiend (@AlexaDaGOAT) May 7, 2024

Go Knicks Go 🏀

— Mike Walls (@mikewallsga) May 7, 2024

KNICKS CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY

— tboe 🍌 (@tboe3D) May 7, 2024

It’s No longer just a Knicks game!!



It’s a movement!!



Let’s Go Knicks!!!

— Anthony (@Baldwin1970) May 7, 2024

GO NEW YORK GO NEW YORK GO

— Dylan Sandas (@Dylan_Sandas) May 7, 2024