During the 2024 NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers renewed their fierce rivalry from the 1990s with a grueling second-round series that lasted seven games.
Part of what makes the current matchup so compelling is the matchup between All-Star point guards Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton. While the two haven’t always matched up on the court due to their defensive matchups, they are among the best point guards in the league and could be pitted against each other in the playoffs in the coming years.
Keeping the rivalry (or kayfabe) alive, Brunson and Haliburton took their rivalry off the court and into the ring Friday night at Madison Square Garden for “WWE SmackDown.” The Knicks point guard had the fans on his side in his home arena, but the Indiana star didn’t back down despite the hostile environment.
The two faced each other at ringside during a “Money in the Bank” qualifying match with Logan Paul, LA Knight and Santos Escobar. Eventually, Brunson was unable to sit still when Haliburton planned to give Paul his brass knuckles to use in the ring.
Naturally, the match couldn’t provide all that drama without the two NBA All-Stars entering the ring. Brunson was the league’s fourth-leading scorer during the season, while Haliburton averaged the most assists per game. But on Friday, a steel chair and brass knuckles were the statistics in the spotlight.
Making sure no star power was wasted, the NBA rivals played a huge role in the outcome of the match. Just as Haliburton was about to perform the brass knuckles on Paul, Brunson jumped into the ring with a steel chair. Knight finally prevailed when he reversed a pin attempt by Paul and picked up the victory.
Both players played their role well. Haliburton trash-talked and played to the crowd, while Brunson looked fierce and ready for battle. Not unlike what we see on the basketball court, really. Will the next clash between the Knicks and Pacers – between their main point guards – be able to match the intensity of “SmackDown”? Maybe in the playoffs.
