New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to drive past Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) in the first quarter during Game 2 of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: The Villanova Knicks go on 20-4 run to take lead in Game 2

By Sean Keane | Last updated May 8, 2024 10:28 PM ET

Trailing by double digits early in the third quarter of Game 2, the New York Knicks turned to their trio of Villanova Wildcats to key their comeback.

KNICKS START THE 2H ON FIRE ‼️

20-4 run puts NYK up 5 in Game 2 on TNT pic.twitter.com/5MvHF0TC4q
— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2024

Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo led a furious Knicks charge where they outscored the Pacers 18-2 over a six-minute stretch in the third quarter. The trio of Wildcats combined for 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in the stretch, with a steal and a block.

Before the run officially started, DiVincenzo, a college teammate of Hart and Brunson at Villanova, made consecutive three-pointers, trading baskets with the Pacers' Andrew Nembhard, then followed up with a dunk.

DiVincenzo for

Knicks cut the lead to 5! pic.twitter.com/2CZpOsjHdN
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 9, 2024

Villanova won national championships in 2016 and 2018, and so far, their alums are keeping the Knicks’ playoff hopes alive in 2024.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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