During the 2024 NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers renewed their fierce rivalry from the 1990s with a grueling seven-game second round.
Part of what makes the current clash so compelling is the duel between All-Star point guards Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton. While the two haven’t always met on the court due to defensive games, they are among the best point guards in the league and could face each other in the playoffs for years to come.
Brunson and Haliburton kept the feud (or kayfabe) alive by taking their rivalry off the court Friday night, stepping into the ring at Madison Square Garden for “WWE SmackDown.” The Knicks guard had the crowd on his side in his home arena, but the Indiana star didn’t back down despite the hostile environment.
The two stared each other down at ringside during a “Money in the Bank” qualifying match featuring Logan Paul, LA Knight and Santos Escobar. Ultimately, Brunson couldn’t stay in his seat when Haliburton planned to give Paul his signature brass knuckles to use in the ring.
Of course, the game couldn’t offer all that drama without the two NBA All-Stars getting in on the action. Brunson was the league’s fourth-leading scorer on the season, while Haliburton averaged the most assists per game. But on Friday, a steel chair and brass knuckles were the most important stats.
The NBA rivals made sure no star power was wasted and played a role in the outcome of the game. Just as Haliburton was about to give Paul his brass knuckles, Brunson jumped into the ring with a steel chair. Knight ultimately had the upper hand when he canceled out a pin attempt from Paul and earned the win.
Both players played their roles well. Haliburton trash-talked and played to the crowd, while Brunson looked fierce and ready to battle. Not much different from what we see on the basketball court, really. Could the next clash between the Knicks and Pacers — between their star point guards — possibly match the intensity of “SmackDown”? Maybe in the playoffs.
