Knicks Survive in Indy as Brunson Drills Game-Winner, Kolek Shines Again
On the second night of a back-to-back sandwiching their NBA Cup title win, the New York Knicks rolled into Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a heavily rotated lineup and just enough gas in the tank to escape with a 114-113 win over the shorthanded Indiana Pacers.
With Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart getting the night off for rest-and a date with the Sixers looming tomorrow-Mike Brown trotted out a starting five featuring Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Ariel Hukporti, and rookie Mohamed Diawara, who made his first NBA start. The Pacers, dealing with their own injury woes, countered with Andrew Nembhard, Quenton Jackson (a two-way player in just his seventh game of the season), Bennedict Mathurin, Jay Huff, and Pascal Siakam.
Despite the disparity in records, Indiana came out swinging. The Pacers jumped to a double-digit lead early, capitalizing on New York’s sluggish start and turnover troubles.
The Knicks struggled to find rhythm offensively, and Indiana held a 62-59 edge at the break. That lead would grow again in the third, but the Knicks clawed back behind timely shooting and another strong showing from second-year guard Tyler Kolek.
And when it came down to the final possession, it was Jalen Brunson-Captain Clutch-who delivered. With 4.4 seconds left, he buried a three to give the Knicks their first and only lead of the fourth quarter. Indiana’s final inbounds attempt was intercepted by Anunoby, sealing the win.
Let’s break it down.
A Night for the Depth Chart
Given the circumstances-resting key players, playing on the road, and facing a depleted Pacers squad-this was a game where the Knicks leaned heavily on their depth. The starting lineup was missing some serious firepower, and the first quarter made that painfully obvious.
New York opened the game ice cold. Turnovers piled up-seven in the first quarter alone-and the offense sputtered to just 25 points while shooting around 20% from the field.
Diawara, in his first start, showed flashes of potential but looked every bit like a second-round rookie still finding his footing. Bridges, who was benched in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s Cup Final, looked off again early, possibly feeling the wear of his heavy minutes and defensive responsibilities.
The lone bright spot in the opening frame? Jordan Clarkson. The veteran guard came off the bench firing, giving the Knicks a much-needed jolt of offense.
By the end of the first, New York trailed 36-25.
Kolek Takes the Keys
The second quarter belonged to Tyler Kolek. The sophomore guard, fresh off a breakout performance in the Cup Final, picked up right where he left off.
He opened the quarter with a three and orchestrated an 18-6 run that got New York back in the game. His pace, vision, and decisiveness were on full display-he looked like a guard who’s starting to realize he belongs.
Kolek’s chemistry with Brunson was a highlight, and his confidence is clearly growing. He finished the half with nine points and four assists in just 13 minutes, including a four-point play assist to Brunson that gave the Knicks real momentum heading into halftime.
At the break, New York trailed by just three, 62-59. The shooting numbers were nearly identical-Knicks at 46%, Pacers at 48%-but New York had the edge in threes made, assists, steals, fast-break points, and offensive boards. After a messy first quarter, they cleaned things up with just one turnover in the second.
Indiana Punches Back, Knicks Rally Again
The third quarter saw the Pacers reassert control. Mathurin and Siakam led a 15-4 run that pushed Indiana’s lead to 16, their largest of the night.
The Knicks couldn’t buy a bucket, and the turnover bug returned. But Kolek kept the offense moving, and Bridges finally found his groove.
A late charge drawn by Mikal and a Kolek triple at the buzzer cut the deficit to six heading into the fourth, 92-86.
The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster. Kolek gave the Knicks their first lead since the opening minutes with a midrange jumper.
But Indiana responded with a 9-1 run, fueled by Siakam and Nembhard. Clarkson, who had been hot earlier, missed a pair of threes, and the Knicks squandered several chances-including a missed free throw by Hukporti after a flagrant foul and a turnover by Anunoby.
But OG redeemed himself in a big way. After missing his first five attempts from deep, he nailed two clutch threes down the stretch, including the game-tying shot with under a minute to play. After Siakam put Indiana back up by two with 17 seconds left, the Knicks drew up one final play.
Brunson got the ball, absorbed a hard foul from Nembhard (which the refs let slide), and came right back with a cold-blooded three to put the Knicks ahead by one. Anunoby then iced the game with a steal on the inbounds.
Stat Leaders and Standouts
- Jalen Brunson: 25 points (10-of-23 FG, 3-of-8 3PT), 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals. The heartbeat of the team and the hero at the buzzer.
- Mikal Bridges: 22 points (9-of-19 FG, 4-of-9 3PT), 8 boards, 5 assists, +9. Quiet early, but impactful late.
- OG Anunoby: 16 points, 6 rebounds, +11. Hit the two biggest shots of the fourth and sealed the win with a steal.
- Tyler Kolek: Career-high 16 points (7-of-10 FG, 2-of-4 3PT), 11 assists, +13. Another step forward for the emerging guard.
- Jordan Clarkson: 18 points (6-of-12 FG, 5-of-9 3PT). Provided crucial scoring off the bench.
- Ariel Hukporti: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks in a season-high 27 minutes. Gritty effort from the big man.
- Mohamed Diawara: 5 points in 19 minutes. Some rough patches, but showed flashes.
On the flip side, Guerschon Yabusele had a night to forget: 3 points, 2 turnovers, and a -17 in just eight minutes.
Pacers’ Effort Comes Up Just Short
Andrew Nembhard was outstanding for Indiana, dropping 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep. Siakam followed with 26 points, albeit on 9-of-22 from the field, while Mathurin added 16 points and 8 boards. The Pacers played hard, led most of the game, and nearly pulled off the upset.
Final Thoughts
This was a gritty, grind-it-out win for the Knicks, who could’ve easily looked past this game with Philly waiting tomorrow. Instead, they showed resilience, leaned on their depth, and got big-time plays from their stars when it mattered most.
Tyler Kolek continues to be one of the most intriguing developments of the Knicks’ season. He’s no longer just a spark plug-he’s becoming a real contributor. And once again, Jalen Brunson proved why he’s the guy you want with the ball in his hands when the game’s on the line.
The Knicks head home with a win in their pocket and a showdown with the Sixers on deck.