Pacers and Knicks reach second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs

Jalen Brunson (Google Images)

Two more teams have advanced to the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. On Thursday, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks won their Eastern Conference first round series after game six wins to win their respective series four games to two.

In Indiana, the Pacers clobbered the Milwaukee Bucks 120-98. Indiana outscored Milwaukee 33-24 in the first quarter, 26-23 in the second quarter, 34-31 in the third quarter, and 27-20 in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks were clearly missing Giannis Antetokounmpo of Athens, Greece, who was out with a calf injury. Without the face of their franchise, the Bucks’s support group could not match Indiana with their talent.

Six Pacers reached double digits in points. Power forward Obi Toppin of Brooklyn, New York had 21 points, point guard T.J. McConnell of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania had 20 points, power forward Pascal Siakam of Douala, Cameroon had 19 points, point guard Tyrese Haliburton of Oshkosh, Wisconsin had 17 points, small forward Aaron Nesmith of Charleston, South Carolina had 15 points, and shooting guard Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ontario had 14 points. Haliburton had a double-double as he had 10 assists.

In the Knicks win, New York defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115. With the game tied at 95, the Knicks made three key three-pointers down the stretch. Point guard Jalen Brunson of New Brunswick, New Jersey made two, while small forward Josh Hart of Silver Spring, Maryland made a dramatic three-point shot with 25 seconds left to break a 111-111 tie.

All five Knicks starters reach double digits in points. Brunson had 41 points, shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo of Newark, Delaware had 23 points, small forward OG Anunoby of London, Great Britain had 19 points, Hart had 16 points, and center Isaiah Hartenstein of Eugene, Oregon had 14 points. Hart led the Knicks with 14 rebounds and Brunson led the Knicks with 12 assists.

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