New York Knicks crush the Indiana Pacers 123-98: Making a statement

The New York Knicks turned their home opener into a blowout victory over the Indiana Pacers 123 to 98. Fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the Knicks bounced back from a worrisome season-opener in Boston.

The game stayed close through the first quarter, as New York’s offense took a while to get rolling. But the Knicks exploded for 36 points in the second quarter, as Mikal Bridges began a midrange onslaught while OG Anunoby and Josh Hart sparked fastbreak offense.

The third quarter felt like a chase for a 30-point lead. Bridges’ onslaught continued while Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson provided a steady punch. All five Knicks starters hit double-digits at this point while stifling the Pacers’ offense.

New York’s bench took the reins for most of the fourth quarter, as this game had already been decided in three.

The difference is defense. New York went from giving up a record number of threes in Boston to holding Indiana to 3/30 from deep. The Pacers led the league in scoring last season, but the Knicks held them to 98 points. Tyrese Haliburton never scored.

Let’s look at the stand-out performances from a night when everyone played well.

Notable Performances

The newcomers shined…

Mikal Bridges: 21 PTS (8/12 FG, 2/3 3PT, 3/4 FT), 5 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 33 mins

Mikal Bridges made everything look easy. He hit a series of midrange jumpers over defenders who never stood a chance. His game looked smooth, mixing in some post-up action and shifting to the three-point line after getting a rhythm everywhere else.

The best part is that Bridges’ impact has another level to reach. His defense looked good but didn’t leap off the screen like it can when at its best. He flashed playmaking with the second unit but has more room for chemistry with the starters.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 PTS (5/11 FG, 2/2 3PT, 9/10 FT), 15 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK in 32 mins

Bodega KAT showed up to the Garden with energy. His first baskets were tough, posting up Myles Turner and sending a message that no one on Indiana could contain him. The Knicks didn’t have to lean on him, but a Towns post-up felt reliable when in doubt.

Towns’ defense and rebounding made a bigger difference than his offense. He blocked a pair of shots and looked much improved from his defensive woes in Boston. KAT’s rebounding was a revelation. He got to everything within reach.

Similar to Bridges, there’s another level for Bodega KAT to reach. He scored well in isolation, but his chemistry with Brunson could take Towns’ scoring to another level.

The rest of the starters balled too…

Jalen Brunson: 26 PTS (10/19 FG, 3/5 3PT, 3/4 FT), 5 AST, 5 REB, 1 TO in 30 mins

Brunson started the night by missing his first four attempts. But once he got going, the Knicks’ star never looked back. He made defenders look foolish at times, but even when Indiana did everything right, Brunson found ways to score.

New York’s MVP looked more aggressive from three and did a better job setting up teammates than in his season opener. He made the game look easy.

Josh Hart: 20 PTS (8/15 FG, 1/6 3PT, 3/4 FT), 3 AST, 10 REB, 1 BLK, 3 TO in 37 mins

Josh Hart got going on the glass and found his coast-to-coast offense. 

The Pacers cheated off Hart constantly but paid for their disrespect. While Hart didn’t hit his three-pointers, he did enough damage off the dribble to demand attention and open things up for teammates.

I can’t complain about a 20&10 double-double, but Hart is another player who can reach a higher standard once his threes begin to fall.

OG Anunoby: 14 PTS (6/12 FG, 1/4 3PT, 1/2 FT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 34 mins

OG Anunoby’s humble stat line betrays a much more impactful performance. His defense was spectacular, and he picked his spots to do damage with offense.

I’ve never seen a player whose defensive digs are so consistently disruptive. Anunoby’s timing and length make him the perfect help-defender. 

Plus, his three-ball is waiting to erupt, as he’s made just one of his first eight attempts this season.

Numbers don’t tell the whole story for this bench player

Cam Payne: 7 PTS (3/9 FG, 1/5 3PT, 0/1 FT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL in 22 mins

I’m giving Cam Payne extra credit despite some shoddy shot selection. Deuce McBride left the first half, so a depleted Knicks’ bench needed a boost.

There was Cam Payne, playing pesky defense and fitting in with the Knicks starters while never disrupting their flow. Payne looked shot-happy playing with the second unit and a thirty-point lead, but he was much better when the game was still competitive.

Payne’s hustle and defense should be enough for fans to forgive a couple of forced attempts.

Other Notes

• Deuce McBride left the game with what looked like a hamstring injury. But he returned in the second half and knocked down a pair of shots.

• New York turned the Pacers over 15 times. That defensive aggression, particularly in the passing lanes, sparked a much more disruptive performance. By anticipating ball movement, the Knicks were always a step ahead.

• The rookies got in for the second consecutive game and looked comfortable. Ariel Hukporti’s two blocks highlighted the performance.

Closing Thoughts

Can you see the vision now? New York’s starting line-up is a pick-your-poison nightmare, even though some players haven’t found a shooting rhythm or chemistry. 

Now, picture this rotation when Mitchell Robinson replaces Jericho Sims’ spot. The defense adds an elite rim protector, and Towns can spend time at the four, exploiting shorter defenders.

More importantly, this is only the beginning. Players have room to improve realistically, and the bruising big men (Mitch and Precious) will add to Tom Thibodeau’s options.

So, I’m preaching patience again. Don’t get too high off this win, and don’t panic if the team doesn’t look like this consistently right away. This victory is proof of concept, but the best is yet to come.

The Cavs are up next, and they’ve been rolling so far. But the Knicks have had their number for the past couple of seasons, so I’m looking forward to the match-up. See you next time, Knicks fam!