Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton have intense staredown in wild Smackdown scene at MSG

It’s never too early to start building toward WrestleMania.

Who knows if it’ll go that far, but Knicks star Jalen Brunson and the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton were both in the building for an MSG episode of Friday Night Smackdown — and they eyed each other up in a tense moment.

Brunson was introduced to the crowd to a loud ovation — as expected — from the MSG faithful as commentator Corey Graves remarked, “It’s Jalen Brunson, No. 11, from your New York Knicks.”

Shortly after, influencer and WWE United States Champion Logan Paul — a heel — made his entrance for his Money In The Bank qualifying triple threat match with Santos Escobar and LA Knight.

Paul, trolling the audience, brought out Haliburton, who introduced himself enthusiastically to a chorus of boos from fans in The Garden.

Tyrese Haliburton takes promo jab at Knicks after WWE confrontation with Jalen Brunson

Of course, it was Haliburton’s Pacers who defeated Brunson’s Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs, with Game 7 taking place at the Garden.

Haliburton, a known wrestling fan, managed Paul for the affair.

Paul instructed Haliburton to get brass knuckles to help Haliburton win the match — which he did — but was confronted ringside by Brunson, who was told by WWE officials to leave the area.

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Paul then lost the match after being rolled up by Knight, and he was joined by Haliburton in the ring.

Brunson then returned with a steel chair to fend off Haliburton and Paul from the outnumbered Knight.

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Haliburton and Brunson argued in the ring before the former left with Paul.

At one point after entering the ring, Brunson shook his left hand — the one he had surgery on after fracturing it in the series against the Pacers — and appeared to grimace, but his facial expression could’ve been part of his planned segment and it’s not clear if he was actually hurt.

It’s unknown if there are any plans for Brunson and Haliburton to be involved with the WWE beyond this angle for the MSG crowd, reigniting their playoff “feud.”

Haliburton, when leaving up the ramp and to the back, was heard by the camera saying, “I’ll be back.”

He’s been involved with WWE before, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.

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