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Knicks star Jalen Brunson was left emotional and speechless after helping New York fight back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to claim their ninth straight victory.
Brunson scored 40 points and picked up five rebounds to help the Knicks defeat the Indiana Pacers 109-105, with the point guard instrumental in the fourth quarter comeback after scoring 11 points during the late rally.
Earlier in the day Brunson was also named to the first NBA All-Star game of his career after being listed as one of the Eastern Conference All-Star reserves.
After his memorable night the 27-year-old was showered with MVP chants from the crowd at Madison Square Garden, which has become common place throughout his fantastic season.
‘I mean… I got nothing to say,’ a speechless Brunson admitted after being asked how it felt to receive so much love on the same day he was named to the All-Star game.
Jalen Brunson was left speechless after the Knicks’ ninth consecutive win 🥹He dropped 40 points vs. the Pacers after being named a first-time All-Star. pic.twitter.com/yHOELiQeHn
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 2, 2024
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was left speechless after a comeback win vs the Pacers
Brunson ended the game with 40 points and spearheaded a 15-point fourth quarter comeback
The point guard, who was visibly emotional after the game, was also named to his first NBA All-Star game hours before it began on Thursday
After he was left out of the starting lineup for the All-Star game, NBA legend Charles Barkley led one of the loudest cries that Brunson was more deserving of the nod compared to Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard.
So far this season Brunson has averaged 26.8 points, 6.5 ᴀssists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
He also appeared to have light swelling around his eye by the end of the night after crashing into Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard in the backcourt and laying and holding his face for several minutes in obvious distress.
Outside of Brunson’s tremendous effort for the Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo scored 20 points and Deuce McBride had 16.
Isaiah Hartenstein had 12 points and 19 rebounds, and Precious Achiuwa finished with 12 points and 16 boards for New York, who missed 20 of 24 three-pointers through as many quarters but made up for it by outrebounding the Pacers 60-44.
The Knicks, playing without injured starting forwards Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, were coming off a 14-2 January.
Randle will be out through the All-Star break with his dislocated right shoulder, while Anunoby missed his third straight game with right elbow inflammation.
Guard Quentin Grimes was sidelined with a sprained right knee.
