Jokic outdoes everyone again
New York celebrates the Brunson and Hartenstein show
May 9, 2024, 8:28 a.m
Top star Jalen Brunson injured and ten points behind – things aren’t looking good for the New York Knicks at halftime. But the comeback is successful. And a German also does hard work. Meanwhile, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic receives the next honor.
Thanks to hard work from Isaiah Hartenstein and another strong performance from Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks also won game two in the NBA playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Hartenstein recorded a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds in 39 minutes of play at 130:121. There were also eight assists for the basketball player from Lower Saxony, who now needs two more wins with the Knicks to reach the final series of the Eastern Conference. Hartenstein had to play for so long because substitute Mitchell Robinson was injured.
Although Brunson missed a fifth game in a row with at least 40 points and finished the game with 29 points, he still led his team in the decisive phases. He caused great enthusiasm when he returned for the second half after missing the entire second quarter due to an injury. The Knicks were ten points behind at halftime. “He’s a great leader. The guys all respect that when a guy is willing to give everything he’s got. That says a lot about him,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. Tyrese Haliburton had the best performance for the Pacers and scored 34 points. Games three and four of the series will be played in Indiana on Friday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has been named the NBA’s most valuable player for the third time in four years. He beat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder (640 points) and Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks (566) in the vote with 926 points, the league announced on Wednesday. Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game in the main round. He had already been voted MVP in 2021 and 2022. Last season, the award went to Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jokic still has a chance to defend his title with the Nuggets. In the playoffs, however, the team is 0-2 behind against the Minnesota Timberwolves after two games and now has to play away from home twice.