Knicks Show Resolve in Win Over Pacers

The New York Knicks looked much improved in their second game of the season.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 26, 2024

Oct 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) and forward OG Anunoby (8) react during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are celebrating for the first time this season after a 123-98 win against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.

The victory came just 72 hours after an embarrassing 23-point loss against the defending champion Boston Celtics in the season opener.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was thrilled with his team's effort on Friday night.

“The character of our team is very strong," Thibodeau said postgame h/t Posting and Toasting. "No one wants to not do well, but you have to do it together. When you do it together, good things will come from that. I love the way our guys responded.”

The Knicks' synergy looked much stronger in front of their home fans than it did on the road in Boston. Part of that may have been the desire to come out much better after losing large against the Celtics in the first game of the season.

“Whenever you get your butt kicked on national TV in the NBA, it means you have to step it up," Knicks forward Josh Hart said postgame. "I think it’s just we laid a big egg that first game. I feel like I didn’t bring it defensively or with energy or stuff like that. We kind of knew this would be a good game for us. One thing I do, whether I make or miss shots, is having that intensity, that energy. Obviously, home opener, the place was electric. That helped.”

The Madison Square Garden crowd certainly fed into their energy, but the Knicks need to be able to channel some of that on the road as well. It won't be hard every game considering Knicks fans are nationwide, but they still need to their own source of vigor at times in order to keep the winning ways going.

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Published Oct 26, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.