When you’re feeling the love from the World’s Most Famous Arena.

THE LINEUP 🏀

What’s inside today’s edition? 

Brunson’s Return Ignites NY: Jalen Brunson’s 2nd-half return sparked a huge Knicks rally

Another MSG Thriller: The Knicks rally back from 12 down to get the win and a 2-0 lead

Tatum Exclusive: Check out an early clip from Jayson Tatum’s sitdown with Ahmad Rashad

Déjà Vu In OKC: Can the Thunder match their longest Playoff win streak of the OKC era?

Jokic Wins 3rd MVP: Joker becomes the 9th player to ever win a trio of NBA MVPs

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Last night’s scores & what to watch today.

Tonight’s ESPN doubleheader features a pair of Game 2s hosted by the two top seeds. In Boston, the Celtics host the Cavs (7 ET) seeking a 2-0 series lead. In OKC, the Thunder host the Mavs (9:30 ET) looking to stay unbeaten in the 2024 Playoffs.

Today at Noon ET, the NBA Social Justice Champion will be announced. The five finalists are: Bam Adebayo, CJ McCollum, Karl-Anthony Towns, Lindy Waters III and Russell Westbrook

1. BRUNSON’S RETURN SPARKS NY RALLY

With 3:32 left in the 1st quarter, Jalen Brunson was subbed out of the game and went to the Knicks locker room.

He stayed there for the rest of the quarter. And the entire 2nd quarter, as Knicks nation held its breath.

With the Knicks down 10 at the half, Brunson walked out onto the court prior to the 3rd quarter and as he took free throws, the chants of “MVP! … MVP! … MVP!” rang through Madison Square Garden.

Brunson was back in the lineup to open the 3rd quarter, igniting a Knicks rally that completely flipped the game and electrified the crowd.

• New York went on a 21-4 run in under five minutes of game time to turn a 12-point deficit into a five-point lead
• The Knicks won the 3rd quarter 36-18 with Brunson scoring 10 points on his own, while assisting on another seven as he played through a foot injury
• 🗣️ NY Coach Tom Thibodeau on Brunson’s Return: “The mental toughness piece is so important… to be at your best when your best is needed, even when you may not be feeling your best.”
• 🗣️ Donte DiVincenzo on Brunson: “He’s a warrior, that’s all I got. There was no doubt in our minds that he’ll be back. All season long no matter what is thrown at him, injury bug or whatever, he always bounces back.”

Brunson wasn’t the only Knick to miss a full quarter of Wednesday’s game. OG Anunoby left late in the 3rd quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.

• He had already scored a Playoff career-high 28 points – including 10 in the 2nd quarter that Brunson missed – with four boards and four 3s in 28 minutes
• Stepping up when a teammate goes down has been a theme for the Knicks all season long and has continued in the Playoffs
• With the series playing every other day for the next three games, keep a close eye on the status of Brunson and Anunoby

2. TRUE TO FORM, KNICKS COME UP CLUTCH AGAIN

Knicks Rally in 2nd Half: Jalen Brunson scored 24 of his 29 points in the 2nd half after returning from a foot injury as the Knicks outscored the Pacers 67-48 in the 2nd half to turn a 10-point halftime deficit into a 130-121 win and a 2-0 series lead. | Recap | Villanova Knicks Shine

• Triple Threat: Brunson (29 pts, 5 ast), DiVincenzo (Playoff career-high 28 pts, 6 3s, including two in the clutch) and Anunoby (28 pts, 4 3s) combined for 85 points
• 1st In 50 Years: This was only the second time in Knicks Playoff history that three players have scored 25+ points in a game. The other time: Willis Reed, Dick Barnett, Bill Bradley on April 20, 1970
• Closing Time: Brunson became the first player of the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to score 20+ points in the 2nd half/overtime in six straight Playoff games, breaking a tie with Kevin Durant (2012) and Kobe Bryant (2003)

All Hart: Josh Hart (19 pts, 15 reb, 7 ast, 8-12 FG) has played every second of this series so far and has logged the full 48 minutes in four games this postseason.

• He’s only the seventh player since 1972 to do that in a single postseason and the first since 1981, joining Moses Malone (1981), Elvin Hayes (1974), Wilt Chamberlain (1972 and 1973), John Havlicek (1972) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1972)
• Hart’s 102 rebounds through the first eight games of the Playoffs are the most by a Knick over an eight-game span since Patrick Ewing (109 from June 5-22, 1994)

Hali Rises Up: After scoring just six points on six shots in Game 1, Tyrese Haliburton vowed to be better in Game 2 and delivered, posting Playoff career-highs of 34 points and seven 3s. Haliburton/Brunson Duel

Reunited: After numerous player vs. fan duels in the 1990s, Pacers legend Reggie Miller (on the call for TNT) and Knicks superfan Spike Lee were back together prior to Game 2.

• Knicks Alums: Check out the 10 former Knicks in attendance to witness the Game 2 win

3. NBA REWIND: JAYSON TATUM

The Celtics and Cavs resume their East Semifinal series tonight in Boston with Game 2 (7 ET, ESPN) after the Celtics took Game 1, 120-95, behind a combined 57 points from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.

Jayson Tatum – who had 18 points, 11 boards and five assists in Game 1 – recently sat down with Ahmad Rashad to discuss his career, his viral YouTube clip on tying a tie, his relationship with his mother, and Bradley Beal driving him home from school growing up in St. Louis.

In an exclusive preview, Tatum discusses why this year’s Celtics roster is set up to win.

• 🗣️ Tatum: “I think this will be the best team I’ve played on for sure. The points that everyone is at in their career right now – Jrue Holiday being a champion; me, D-White, JB and Al [Horford] have been to the championship and been so close, and been to so many Conference Finals, and haven’t quite gotten over that hump.”

While winning the title is the ultimate goal, Tatum says the Celtics don’t necessarily like talking about it, but prefer to remain in the moment.

• 🗣️ Tatum: “I think I’ve in the past, maybe looked past opponents, and that’s come back to bite us. So this year, understanding, yes, what we’re ultimately trying to accomplish. But the goal is really just to get better every single day.”

Tatum dives into how losses in the last two Playoffs have helped shape and focus this year’s Celtics.

• 🗣️ Tatum: “Losing in the Finals two years ago, losing in the Conference Finals last year in Game 7, and now we’re all just at the point where we just want to win.
• “And truly, having a team that’s willing to do whatever it takes to complement each other, so we can get the best out of each other, so we can win a championship.”

Check out the full interview today on the NBA App.

4. DÉJÀ VU IN OKC? 

The Thunder enter tonight’s game with the Mavericks (9:30 ET, ESPN) seeking a 6-0 start to the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

• The last time OKC did that? The 2012 Thunder began the Playoffs 6-0 en route to the first (and so far only) Finals of the OKC era
• More similarities? The 2012 Thunder allowed just 89.7 ppg in that six-game win streak. The 2024 Thunder have allowed just 90.6 ppg in their first five games, allowing no more than 95 points

After sweeping the Pelicans in the opening round, the Thunder took Game 1 against Dallas with a strong defensive effort led by Lu Dort on the perimeter and Chet Holmgren inside.

• Dort vs. Doncic: In 6:11 of matchup time, Dort held Luka Doncic to 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, with three assists and three turnovers
• 🗣️ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Dort’s Defense: “I’m glad I don’t have to play against him. He doesn’t get complacent…he keeps his matchup all night. Guard the best player on the other team every night. It’s special, it’s really a talent”
• Chet vs. Everybody: The Playoff leader in blocks (2.8 bpg), denied shots by Kyrie, Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum in Game 1

The Thunder made the leap from a Play-In team that missed the Playoffs to the No. 1 seed in the West this season. With much of the roster seeing the Playoff stage for the first time, they haven’t been rattled by the stakes.

• The Thunder are 2-0 in clutch games this postseason and lead all teams in 4th quarter plus/minus (+7.2 ppg)
• 🗣️ Jalen Williams on High-Pressure Moments: “It’s really fun. We do a good job coming together as a team during those moments…just about getting stops and buckling down. We lean on each other to make big plays.”

In Game 1, Williams scored 10 of his 18 points in a 4th quarter push that put the game away. Despite going scoreless in the final frame, SGA finished with 29 points.

Can the Thunder follow their Game 1 win with another to tie the longest Playoff win streak of the OKC era?

Or will Luka, Kyrie and the Mavs be the first to solve OKC and send the series back to Dallas tied?

5. JOKIC WINS 3RD MVP IN 4 YEARS

Since its debut in the 1955-56 season, the NBA MVP has been awarded 69 times to a total of 36 players.

Already one of the game’s all-time exclusive clubs, there are different levels within this group.

• 36 players with 1+ MVP
• 15 players with 2+ MVPs
• 9 players with 3+ MVPs
• 5 players with 4+ MVPs
• 3 players with 5+ MVPs
• 1 player with 6+ MVPs

By winning his third Kia NBA Most Valuable Player in the past four years on Wednesday, Denver’s Nikola Jokic has joined the elite class of nine players to win the award at least three times.

• 3 MVPs: Jokic, Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson
• 4 MVPs: Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James
• 5 MVPs: Michael Jordan and Bill Russell
• 6 MVPs: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Jokic finished with 79 first-place votes out of 99 total votes to beat out fellow finalists SGA and Luka Doncic. | Jokic’s 2023-24 mixtape

• 🗣️ Jokic: “It’s got to start with the teammates; without them, I cannot do nothing. Coaches, players, organization, medical staff, strength coaches, development coaches. It is all one big circle. But I cannot be whatever I am without them.”

The ninth-year pro has helped redefine the center position with his all-around skill, scoring, rebounding, passing, court vision and basketball IQ.

• The Numbers: Jokic ranked 10th in points (26.4 ppg), 4th in rebounds (12.4 rpg), 3rd in assists (9.0), 2nd in double-doubles (68) and triple-doubles (25)
• This History: Jokic became the 2nd player in NBA history to have at least 2,000 points, 900 rebounds and 700 assists in a season, joining Oscar Robertson (1961-62)
• Inside The Numbers: It would take an entire newsletter to recount Jokic’s statistical achievements. Spin through them here