No Jalen Brunson, no problem. Even without their key player, the New York Knicks recorded an easy 136-110 win over the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
Brunson missed the game with an ankle injury and a neck strain. He had not missed a competition since January.
A big factor in the Knicks' victory was Jose Alvarado, who replaced Brunson in the starting lineup. He scored 16 points on 5 of 10 shooting, including four three-pointers, two rebounds, 10 assists and two steals.
Before tip-off, Alvarado was introduced as being from Christ the King High School. Players are usually introduced to their alma mater in college. When SNY asked about this, they told a slight change felt appropriate.
"I just wanted to show love for the school in the city where I went. Thanks to my college, I'm definitely grateful for my college. But the debut at The Garden was meant to represent the city where I grew up," explained Alvarado, who was born and raised in Brooklyn.
During lineup introductions, Jose Alvarado was asked about his introduction to Christ the King High School:
"I just wanted to show love for the school in the town where I went to. The debut at The Garden was meant to represent the town where I grew up." pic.twitter.com/PI1iaD996y
- Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 18 March 2026
The 27-year-old guard played four years at Georgia Tech, earning two All-ACC team honors and winning the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2021.
Alvarado has been a solid midseason pick-up for the Knicks, providing instant energy, defensive intensity and shooting off the bench. In 18 games, he has averaged 6.2 points, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 17.0 minutes.
He's a perfect fit for the Knicks' culture, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he earns a bigger role in the playoffs.
