Knicks Can't Keep Pace With Indiana Threes

The New York Knicks were once again denied a winning streak after failing to stop the Indiana Pacers' outside forces.

Nov 10, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots the ball while New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) defends in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks were in full playoff mode on Sunday evening. Unfortunately for New York, that means something little different when they face the Indiana Pacers.

Indiana picked up where it left off from last postseason, earning a 132-121 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Sunday marked the second meeting between the lasting rivals after the Pacers took a seven-game decision from the Knicks in last spring's Eastern Conference Semifinals.

New York had won the first in blowout fashion back in its home opener on Oct. 25 but the Pacers took their revenge from deep: Indiana (5-5) hit 21 three-pointers, eight alone coming over the final dozen that saw it outscore the Knicks by a 40-27 tally.

Nov 10, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates a call in the while talking to New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Held scoreless in the prior Garden party, Tyrese Haliburton put up a 35-point, 14-assist double-double that countered a 33-10 effort from Jalen Brunson. Negated in the effort was one of Brunson's finest shooting efforts of the year, as he was 11-of-17 from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 30 on 11-of-19, with the Knicks as a whole shooting 55.4 percent. That, however, only created the Knicks' first loss when shooting 55.4 percent from the field or better since March 2023.

Bennedict Mathurin earned a career-best 38 points for the Pacers, continuing his torrid pace established upon his entry into the starting lineup. Further assisted by 26 from Myles Turner, not to mention 14 points and eight boards for Pascal Siakam, the Pacers' starters held down the fort while depth stars Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin all nursed injuries.

The Pacers had scored just 83 in Friday's loss to Charlotte but Haliburton, Mathurin, and Myles Turner united to shoot 16-of-27 with an extra point on the line. In comparison, the Knicks (4-5) could only muster seven as a team on 25 attempts. This was already the second time this season that the Knicks have allowed a team to sink at least 20 three-pointers.

In a cruelly ironic twist, the Pacers' three-point barrage shut down a sterling advantage in the paint: the Knicks outscored Indiana 64-38 in that category with some of their bigger bodies out while they also held a plus-seven advantage on the glass. Karl-Anthony Towns pulled in only nine on a night where his streak of double-doubles was stopped at seven. Josh Hart picked up where Towns left off, earning his own with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Knicks conclude a brief road trip on Tuesday night when NBA Cup group play opens against the Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

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