Last year, the Pacers faced their biggest defeat against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and this time, the tables turned, but not exactly in a positive way for either team.
A lot has shifted since they last met here.
The Pacers, missing Tyrese Haliburton who’s been out since the season began, have the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
Although they eliminated the Knicks from the playoffs the past two years, they don’t seem to pose a threat this postseason.
The Knicks came into this matchup with a strong record, having won nine of their last ten games.
Still, some things always remain the same.
In a bit of a surprising turn, despite a rough season, the Pacers managed to edge out the Knicks, losing narrowly at 137-134 during overtime right before the All-Star break.
Yet, the Pacers gave the Knicks an unexpected lifeline.
Leading by three with only 6.2 seconds on the clock, they intentionally fouled Mikal Bridges, who made both. Pascal Siakam then fouled with just 5.2 seconds left, making one out of two free throws, which cut the Knicks’ deficit to two.
In a tense finish, Landry Shamet missed a 3-pointer but Karl-Anthony Towns was fouled while trying to grab the rebound, calmly converting two free throws to force the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Pacers started strong, scoring the first nine points. The Knicks managed to close the gap, thanks to a 3-pointer from Jalen Brunson and trailed by just one with 5.1 seconds remaining, but it wasn’t enough.
Quenton Jackson made two free throws, and the Pacers intentionally fouled Shamet, who missed both, sealing an embarrassing loss for the Knicks.
Both teams have a knack for chaos; this game featured 39 lead changes— a record for the season.
Every time you looked up, another Pacers player was hitting an open three-pointer. The Knicks’ once-stellar defense seemed to falter, allowing the Pacers to shoot 51.5 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
The trio of Aaron Nesmith, Aaron Nembhard, and Siakam really came alive in the game’s latter stages. It didn’t help that Brunson, known for his clutch plays, struggled when it mattered most.
Nesmith scored back-to-back baskets to give the Pacers a three-point lead with a little over three minutes left in regulation. After a basket from Bridges, Nembhard continued the trend, restoring their edge. Siakam then scored with authority.
With the Pacers leading by one, Siakam hit a fadeaway jumper over Josh Hart, extending the lead to three. Brunson had his chances to put the Knicks ahead but missed key shots, including a potential tying three-pointer in the final seconds.
Towns was ejected after an illegal screen foul, leaving the Knicks even thinner as they had already been without key players like Miles McBride and Mitchell Robinson.
This game marks the first time these two teams faced off at MSG since their Eastern Conference Finals showdown last year. Earlier in the season, the Knicks managed a one-point win in Indiana, but the outcomes of these encounters don’t fully represent the standings.
Regardless of their issues, the Pacers seem to have the Knicks’ number.
