In a thrilling showdown on Tuesday night, the New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 128-115, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart leading the way. Towns, with 40 points and 12 rebounds, and Hart, contributing 30 points and 10 rebounds, were instrumental in New York’s first victory in Indianapolis since April 2023. The Knicks had previously lost all three of their road games during last season's Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pacers.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart dominate for Knicks
Towns set the tone early, scoring 24 points in the first half alone, shooting a remarkable 9 of 12 from the field. He finished the game with 14 of 23 field goals made. Meanwhile, Hart turned it up in the second half, finishing 12 of 16 from the field. Their offensive firepower proved too much for the Pacers, and New York never looked back after a 10-0 run in the second quarter, which gave them a 68-60 halftime lead.
Pacers struggle despite strong individual performances
Indiana had solid contributions, including a 24-point effort from three-time All-Star Pascal Siakam. Thomas Bryant, filling in for the injured Myles Turner (strained neck), added 18 points and nine rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin also contributed 18 points. However, the Pacers struggled to contain the scoring onslaught from Towns and Hart, and they could not capitalize on a cold shooting night from beyond the arc.
Key moments and stats
Indiana managed to trim the deficit to 103-95 early in the fourth quarter, but the Knicks quickly responded with a 7-0 run that effectively sealed the game. New York capitalized on its superior rebounding, outpacing the Pacers 48-36 on the boards. They also dominated second-chance points, outscoring Indiana 19-6 in that category.
Takeaways
For the Knicks, head coach Tom Thibodeau’s squad showed resilience despite the absence of forward OG Anunoby and the foul trouble of Jalen Brunson. Towns and Hart's stellar performances were key to their victory. On the other hand, the Pacers, looking to regain momentum after a difficult road trip, struggled to find a defensive answer for the Knicks’ high-powered offense.
New York will now head into the All-Star break after their Wednesday home game against Atlanta, while the Pacers travel to Washington on Wednesday for their next matchup.