Jalen Brunson suffers serious injury in Game 7 against Pacers

Feb 3, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson suffered a significant injury during Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

Brunson left Game 7 in the third quarter with a hand injury. The Knicks quickly announced that the point guard suffered a fractured left hand and would not return.

The injury may have happened on this play:

This is probably where Jalen Brunson broke his hand pic.twitter.com/MhfVB6nHlh

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 19, 2024

Obviously, the injury could not have come at a worse time. Brunson had an MVP-caliber season and has been New York’s best player in the playoffs. He entered Sunday’s game averaging 33.7 points and 7.3 assists in the postseason. Brunson had 40-plus points in five of the Knicks’ 12 playoff games prior to Game 7 against the Pacers.

The Knicks were trailing by double-digits at the time Brunson left with his hand injury. Indiana had a mind-blowing first half shooting the ball, but the Knicks still managed to keep the score within 15 heading into halftime.

There was speculation earlier in the Indiana series that Brunson was dealing with a hand injury, but the Knicks said that was not the case.