Knicks Fall Short in OT Thriller vs. Pacers - And the Bigger Picture Is Starting to Take Shape
The Knicks had every chance to walk out of Madison Square Garden with a win Tuesday night. Instead, they dropped a 137-134 overtime heartbreaker to the Indiana Pacers - a team many expected to be in full-on rebuild mode, not trading punches in a shootout.
It was the kind of game that felt like it would tilt New York’s way. They kept clawing back, forcing extra time thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns’ clutch free throws in the final seconds of regulation. But when the moment demanded one more push, they simply didn’t have it.
Let’s be clear: Jalen Brunson showed up. The Knicks’ All-Star guard poured in 40 points, grabbed five boards, and dished out eight assists across 42 hard-fought minutes.
He was aggressive, composed, and once again shouldered the offensive load. Sure, he missed a couple of key looks late - but that’s the nature of being the guy.
When the ball is always in your hands, the spotlight doesn’t blink.
And that’s exactly the issue.
Brunson’s brilliance is becoming a double-edged sword. When he delivers like this, it should be enough.
But the Knicks are asking him to be the engine, the fuel, and the spark - every single night. Former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins hit the nail on the head during an appearance on Run It Back:
"They need to add another scoring option. It's a lot of pressure on [Jalen] Brunson."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 11, 2026
DeMarcus Cousins believes that the Knicks are still ONE PIECE away 🗣️
(via @RunItBackFDTV)
pic.twitter.com/mXbB7mjHkr
“They’ve got talent. They’ve got experience.
But they’re still a piece away. It’s a lot of pressure on Brunson to be the go-to guy every night.
They need another scoring option.”
That’s not just talk - it’s reality. The Knicks’ supporting cast has its moments, but the hierarchy behind Brunson remains murky. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges bring defensive toughness and versatility, but neither has consistently stepped into that clear-cut No. 2 scoring role.
That responsibility, in theory, should belong to Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s the big-name addition, the multi-time All-Star, the guy who can stretch the floor and dominate inside.
But so far this season, he hasn’t looked fully in sync under head coach Mike Brown. Whether it’s adjusting to a new system, battling through discomfort, or simply trying to find his rhythm, Towns hasn’t been the offensive force the Knicks need him to be.
And the fouls? They’re piling up - and not the smart, physical kind. Towns has been caught in foul trouble far too often lately, and it’s limiting his ability to stay aggressive and assert himself when the team needs it most.
The Knicks don’t need Towns to be a savior. They just need him to be the version of himself we saw during the 2024-25 campaign - confident, efficient, and engaged on both ends.
If he can get back to that level, it changes the entire complexion of this team. Suddenly, Brunson isn’t carrying the entire scoring burden, and the offense becomes much harder to scheme against.
This loss to Indiana? It stings.
But it also shines a spotlight on the bigger issue: the Knicks are good - very good, even - but the margin for error is razor-thin when the offensive load isn’t shared. They’re in the thick of the Eastern Conference race, but to truly make noise come playoff time, they’ll need more than just Brunson’s heroics.
They’ll need Towns to rise.