The heroic win from the host Knicks against the Pacers in the second half with Jalen Brunson as the star player was truly spectacular. However, the scenario does not look good for the Knicks, as the victorious team sustained two injuries during the Wednesday night game. Even an ESPN insider, Brian Windhorst, revealed how he did not get the part where Jalen Brunson got injured in the first half. Moreover, he mentioned another injury for the Knicks forward OG Anunoby, whose playing in game two itself had “contributed to the injury.“

The overuse of players like Anunoby in heavy playoff conditions was the reason for tissue injury, as per Windhorst. Coming to the star player Jalen Brunson, Windhorst commented, “Just interested if Jalen Brunson is going to be on the injury report that the Knicks will file with the league later.“ The ESPN insider was referring here to the final 15:32 minutes of the second half that Jalen missed because of a right foot injury. However, Brian did not know where that injury came from after watching the whole first quarter at every step. “It makes you wonder what’s going on there, “ Windhorst further added while raising his concern for Brunson.

With so many injuries and more high-level waiting ahead, Brian commented for the team, “The Knicks are a little closer to danger zone than they want to be.” Currently, Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle are out of the team because of their left ankle injury and right shoulder injury, respectively, besides Brunson and Anunoby. Moreover, Bojan Bogdanović is also off the roster for now.

If this list further continues, the Knicks are going to have trouble on their playoff journey ahead with their supportive players falling one by one.

Who’s going to lead the Knicks if Jalen Brunson gets dropped?

In the absence of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby from the court during Game 2 against Indiana Pacers, Josh Hart took the lead on offense. Even when he was asked about the injuries on the team, Josh Hart seemed cool about the situation. “I’m playing 48 [minutes] anyways, dog. Ain’t s**t change,” Hart commented, when he was asked if Anunoby’s injury would affect them in the game, moving further in the playoffs.

Hart has also become the first NBA player with back-to-back complete games since Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls played every minute in three straight playoff contests in 2013. Though Brunson got a sore foot in the first half because of the high-intensity game against the Pacers. Hart is the one who has positively performed in such heavy-paced games. During the playoffs, the Knicks forward has averaged 18.0 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

However, even if the Knicks sustain further injuries, the Knicks coach, Tom Thibodeau, has made his fans believe the “next man up” mantra that he might follow for any bitter luck moving next in the playoffs. Interestingly, it will be worth watching how Thibs will shuffle his players in games moving ahead amid injury chaos.