2024-10-26 13:30:03
INDIANAPOLIS — The Knicks outscored the Pacers by 30 points in the middle two quarters to turn Friday’s Eastern Conference semifinals into a laugher, winning 123-98 to get some level of revenge for Indiana’s win in the best-of-seven series in May. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton went scoreless, missing all eight of his field goal attempts including seven 3s.
The Pacers fell to 1-1 with their home opener coming Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks improved to 1-1 after starting the year with a blowout loss to Boston.
All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points. Newly added center Karl-Anthony Towns posted 21 points and 15 rebounds. Mikal Bridges scored 21 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Forward Josh Hart added 20 points and former IU star O.G. Anunoby added 14.
Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 20 points. Center Myles Turner added 13. Pascal Siakam had 12 and Isaiah Jackson had 10 in his return from a groin strain.
Knicks 123, Pacers 98, end of fourth quarter
The end of a blowout gave the Pacers occasion to empty their bench. Rookie Johnny Furphy got his first NBA minutes. Two-way contract players Quenton Jackson and Enrique Freeman got on the floor and so did veteran James Johnson. Against the bottom of the Knicks’ bench, the Pacers chipped into New York’s lead.
Of course, that’s not exactly relevant and the Knicks still won by more than 20.
Knicks 111, Pacers 81, 5:43 fourth quarter
So they’re singing Sinatra already and they spent the timeout jacked up about the home run Giancarlo Stanton just hit, so the Knicks are acting like this is in the bag and it is. The Pacers are 8 of 11 this period but the lead is staying in the 30s. Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns all have 20 plus. This one is cooked.
Knicks 95, Pacers 64; end of third quarter
The middle two quarters were pretty much a disaster for the Pacers as they were outscored 70-40. In the third, the Pacers made 9 of 17 field goals, but they also turned the ball over seven times and they missed all six 3s they attempted and made just 1 of 4 free throws. The Knicks were 11 of 23 from the field, 3 of 8 from 3, 9 of 11 at the line and they grabbed four offensive rebounds, so they posted 1.37 points per possession to the Pacers’ 0.77.
Mikal Bridges had 13 points in the period. Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t scored in this game and probably won’t.
Knicks 90, Pacers 60, 1:52 third quarter
The Knicks’ 13-1 run makes this one completely out of hand now. The Knicks are on the attack and hitting jumpers. The Pacers look completely out of sorts. No interesting fourth quarter coming here.
Knicks 77, Pacers 59, 4:20 third quarter
The Pacers are making a little bit of progress and getting some stops, but they’re now 3 of 23 from 3-point range and don’t have a 3 in this half. The Knicks meanwhile are starting to pull away in the rebound battle where the Pacers started relatively strong. The Knicks are up 32-24 on the glass now and they have more shots and more free throws. The Knicks are up to 1.24 points per possession and the Pacers are at 0.91.
Knicks 69, Pacers 49, 8:20 third quarter
Mikal Bridges’ shot didn’t look great in Tuesday’s opener against the Celtics for the Knicks, but it looks like he fixed it. He just hit a jumper over Myles Turner and he’s 5 of 6 from the floor for 12 points.
The Knicks are 3 of 8 to start the third, but the Pacers are 2 of 7, so the Knicks are adding to their lead. Tyrese Haliburton forced a couple more 3s, and he’s still scoreless.
Knicks 61, Pacers 45, halftime
The Knicks finished the second quarter and won the period 36-21, making 14 of 21 shots and 4 of 6 3-pointers in the period, posting 1.58 points per possession.
At the break, they’re 24 of 43 from the floor, 7 of 13 from 3, 6 of 8 at the line with 1.31 points per possession. The Pacers are 18 of 42, an ugly 3 of 18 from 3 and 6 of 9 at the line.
Jalen Brunson has 12 points to go with five assists. Karl Anthony Towns has 12 points, Josh Hart has 11 and O.G. Anunoby has 10. Pascal Siakam leads the Pacers with 12 and Bennedict Mathurin has 11. Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t scored yet, as he’s 0 of 6 from the floor and 0 of 5 from 3. He does have five assists.
Knicks 58, Pacers 43, 1:03 second quarter
After a brief Pacers response, the Knicks are on a 10-2 run and now they have their biggest lead of the night. Brunson continues to blow by his defenders. Anunoby had a fast-break dunk. The Pacers aren’t making any outside shots this period and the Knicks are all over them on defense.
Knicks 48, Pacers 41, 3:05 second quarter
The Pacers responded just as they were starting to stagger. Aaron Nesmith grabbed a rebound on an airball and put it back and then Pascal Siakam threw down a dunk on the break to make things a little more manageable.
Knicks 48, Pacers 37, 4:07 second quarter
The Knicks are on a 12-2 run, Jalen Brunson is getting down hill and the Pacers are very much scrambled on defense. They went zone for a possession only to see Josh Hart drill an open, in-rhythm 3, and so far the Knicks are 10 of 14 from the floor and 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the period.
Brunson has four points and two assists in the quarter and he has 10 points in the game, but that number could be a lot higher by the end of the period.
