Brunson continued his hot-scoring nights into the series against the Pacers after knocking out the defending champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. He scored 43 points in Game 1 and followed up with 36 in Game 2. However, it wasn't enough, as the Knicks dropped the first two games.

This was not about a moral victory. It wasn’t about taking solace in anything after a hard-fought series. Jalen Brunson wanted to make that clear.

The Knicks are better than they have been in decades, and the city has fallen for the team’s unassuming but sharpshooting point guard.