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Knicks at Pacers: How & Who to Watch As Visitors Seek Seventh Heaven

The New York Knicks will look to sweep a three-game road trip, the finale coming Sunday evening against the reeling Indiana Pacers.

Geoff Magliocchetti

The New York Knicks are taking to the weekend to go through the hits of the 1990s, making their own brands of history in the process.

A three-game road trip that will lead into a holiday homestand ends on Sunday evening but the Knicks will certainly hope that their winning streak continues against the Indiana Pacers. New York has captured a season-best six wins in a row, a streak that continued through consecutive games in Chicago. The latter victory on Friday night, one earned with a career-best six three-pointers from Jalen Brunson, was a 114-91 shellacking over the Bulls, one where New York led by as much as 30. That win was the Knicks' first in a de facto road doubleheader since they beat San Francisco twice in 1970.

Sunday's hosts from Indianapolis have cooled off since a 12-8 start, having dropped seven of their last 10, including three of the most recent four. Friday night saw them drop a 118-112 decision to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a defeat that saw them lose a 13-point lead that opened the fourth quarter.

This will be the first of four meetings between the Knicks and Pacers this season, the first one at Madison Square Garden scheduled for Jan. 11. With both left out of the Eastern Conference postseason discussion last year, the two teams split a quartet, each successfully defending its home floor.

What: New York Knicks (16-13) @ Indiana Pacers (15-15)

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

When/Watch: Sunday, 5 p.m. ET, MSG/MSG Go

Who's Favored: IND -1.5

Keep An Eye On: RJ Barrett

The headlining efforts of Brunson and Julius Randle and the respective rises of Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride have afforded Barrett some rare peace as he works through his well-documented early struggles. But he's slowly starting to find his groove over the past four games, reaching 20 on each occasion and notably tying Randle for the lead in scoring in Sunday's Manhattan-based triumph over Sacramento. Barrett is shooting 46 percent from the field in that span: New York is 7-4 overall when he reaches at least 45. 

"He's playing really well, playing within himself,” Brunson said of Barrett's recent efforts, per Newsday. “I think what's most important is that his mindset and demeanor don't change at all. He can have rough shooting nights, but he still plays well on the defensive end. He brings it. He keeps his mindset the same, and I love that about him.”

Pacer to Watch: Bennedict Mathurin

Like Barrett, the rookie Mathurin is expected to be a big part of the Canadian national team's hardwood affairs and he's been backing up that promise in his recent appearances: while showcasing a sense of general consistency throughout his freshman campaign, the Arizona alum has averaged 23 points over the last two games. Wednesday's win over Golden State was particularly impressive, as Mathurin put in 24 points, pulled down six rebounds, and dished out three assists. Indiana was also plus-34 in the scorebook during Mathurin's 36 minutes.

"I kept telling everybody, ‘Just get him the ball,’” Haliburton said after the win over the Warriors, per IndyStar. "’(Told them to) run whatever we can to get him the ball.’ Obviously, you guys know Benn is special. When Benn makes a shot, you probably should give him the ball again because it always feels like he scores in bunches. 

"When he gets one bucket, it always feels like it's four or five in a row. For me, I see him make one or two in a row, you have to give him the ball and just get out of the way."

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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Geoff Magliocchetti
GEOFF MAGLIOCCHETTI

Editor-In-Chief at All Knicks

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