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New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson Quick to Play Down Scintillating 43-Point Outburst in Game 1 Win Vs. Indiana Pacers

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Paolo Songco | Last updated 5/7/24

For the fourth game in a row, New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson dropped another 40-point performance as he led his squad to a hard-fought 121-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks have now drawn first blood in this series and it is thanks in large part to another strong outing by their star point guard.

New York Knicks News: Jalen Brunson Reacts to Game 1 Heroics

Brunson kept his foot on the gas in Game 1, finishing with a game-high 43 points on 14-of-26 from the floor, to go along with six rebounds, six assists, and a block in 43 minutes of action. The 6-foot-2 point guard scored 21 points in the final frame, once again proving that he is more than capable of stepping it up for the Knicks when it matters the most.

Brunson, however, was quick to play down his gargantuan effort on Monday night. Speaking to the media in his post-game press conference, Brunson once again heaped praise on his teammates for the collective effort they all put in to pull off a crucial win in Game 1:

“The little things can go a long way,” Brunson said, via Brian Windhorst of ESPN. “So yeah, the 40 points are cool and all, but it’s the little things that help us win games like that. So I’m just happy I have the group of guys that I do. I just know that we’re going to fight every single day. That’s all I’m thinking about.”

Tom Thibodeau Sounds Off on Jalen Brunson’s Performance

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau had nothing but high praise for Brunson. The tenured shot-caller credited the 27-year-old not only for his scintillating performance but perhaps more importantly, for his unrelenting desire to always put the betterment of the team before his:

“You could go on and on every night, and the thing I love about him is he’s all about the team,” Thibodeau said. “All he cares about is winning, and he cares about his teammates, and I think when that happens, he’s, in the end, what do we need? Do we need a big bucket? Whatever it is we need, he’ll provide.”

The Knicks will expect more of the same from Brunson moving forward, starting with Game 2 on Wednesday. Another win for New York would put them in a tremendous position to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.