Jalen Brunson left the locker room on an injured leg, walked onto the court and sent the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy, just as Willis Reed had exactly 54 years earlier.

As the roars turned into “MVP! MVP!” chants, Brunson tried to block out the pain in his body and the noise all around him as he warmed up at halftime.

“It was really cool to hear, but I just knew that I had to get my mind in the right place to figure out how I was going to attack the second half,” Brunson said.

He shook off his right foot injury to score 24 of his 29 points in the final two quarters, leading the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

On the anniversary of Reed’s dramatic emergence from the locker room before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to lead the Knicks to their first title, Brunson had missed the entire second quarter while the Pacers surged ahead to a double-figure lead. Reed’s teammates have said they didn’t know if he would play that night. Brunson’s had no doubt.

“I mean, he’s a warrior. That’s all I got,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “There was no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back. All season long, no matter what is thrown at him, injury bug or whatever, he always bounces back. And we knew the severity of the game and everything, so we knew, everybody had confidence he was coming back.”

Brunson's remarkable comeback mirrored Reed's iconic moment, epitomizing resilience and determination. Despite battling injury, Brunson's performance inspired his teammates and energized the crowd, propelling the Knicks to a crucial victory and a 2-0 series lead.

The significance of Brunson's return was felt throughout Madison Square Garden, as fans rallied behind their injured star, echoing chants of "MVP" and drawing parallels to Reed's historic feat. Brunson's ability to overcome adversity and lead his team to victory further solidifies his place as a true leader and warrior on the court.

With Brunson's heroics paving the way, the Knicks are now in a prime position to advance in the playoffs, fueled by the spirit of determination and inspired by the legacy of past champions like Willis Reed.