Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson Sounds off on 1 X-Factor That Could Put Indiana Pacers in Trouble

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated 5/6/24

The Indiana Pacers will offer a different challenge for Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in these playoffs. After retiring the Philadelphia 76ers from title contention this season, the Knicks will next take on the high-octane attack of Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers, who victimized the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

Jalen Brunson Opens Up About Not-So-Secret New York Knicks Weapon vs. Pacers

The Knicks know that Indiana will not make things easy for them. But Brunson has complete confidence in his team, partly because of New York’s not-so-secret weapon in the form of trade acquisition OG Anunoby.

Via Zach Braziller of the New York Post:

“Obviously, having him will make a difference,” Jalen Brunson said. “I’m excited, he’s healthy. I’m excited he’s back with us. It’s going to be a great matchup.”

Anunoby could be the ace in the hole of the Knicks in the Pacers series. Although the Pacers beat New York twice in three meetings back in the regular season, none of those games featured Anunoby in Knicks uniform. The first meeting between New York in Indiana this season happened on the same day that the Knicks traded for Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors. In the next two games between the two rivals, Anunoby was not able to suit up because of an injury.

Now, Anunoby is healthy and has been a key cog for the Knicks in their playoff run. In the Sixers series, he was third on the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor and providing an average of 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks per contest.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: