The New York Knicks defeat the Indiana Pacers 119-113. New York was able to survive another near-collapse from tired legs.
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The New York Knicks held on to a lead late, defeating the Indiana Pacers 119 to 113. The Knicks dominated the first half of play and closed with a 21-point lead. That advantage grew to 25 points in the third quarter before the Knicks began to slow down, and Indiana staged a comeback. However, New York managed just enough scoring to stay ahead, thanks to clutch baskets from Jalen Brunson and a big three-pointer from Quentin Grimes in the final minutes.
The Knicks returned to full health for the first time in a long time. But their nine-man rotation relied on heavy minutes from just six players. As a result, the team looked exhausted, but they found the energy to pick up a big win. Let’s see how each player’s performance impacted the game.
Another Allstar performance from Jalen Brunson leads Knicks’ starters
Jalen Brunson: 34 PTS (11/20 FG, 3/4 3PT, 9/9 FT), 4 AST, 3 REB, 1 TO in 42 mins
The media built up Jalen Brunson’s match-up with Tyrese Haliburton by hyper-focusing on Wally Szczerbiak’s comments about Haliburton being a “wannabe all-star.” Haliburton took questions about the perceived insult, and his teammates alluded to the issue as well. Unfortunately, all of that talk seemed to gloss over the point Wally was making, which is that Jalen Brunson deserves an all-star nod over Haliburton…I think Brunson, quiet as kept, took that personally (he thoroughly outplayed Haliburton until the Indiana guard left the game).
Brunson came out the gate with 15 points and continued to pour points on throughout the night. He came up with big baskets, including 7 points in the final minutes of the close game. The star point guard slowed down due to blitzing double-teams and TJ Mcconnell’s constant harassment, but he still found seams to attack and create.
In 5 games back from his injury, Brunson is averaging 33 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds on 52 percent from the field and 50 percent from three; he’s leading New York and producing like a superstar. On top of that, Brunson took his match-up with another aspiring all-star and snatched the spotlight. New York’s star receives 4.5 out of 5 for another brilliant performance.
Quentin Grimes: 18 PTS (6/11 FG, 4/8 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 2 TO in 30 mins
Quentin Grimes completed an excellent performance by hitting a three to put the game away with 25 seconds left on the clock. He made the most of nearly every touch, shooting 50 percent from distance and scattering blow-by drives throughout his night. He played the perfect compliment to the rest of the starters, thriving from the weak side as other ball handlers swung the ball out of traffic.
Grimes’ defense might be more notable than his offense. He did a fantastic job of containing Tyrese Haliburton and forcing the guard into sloppy passes. To give you an idea of how impactful his defense was, do you see Mitchell Robinson’s steal tally? A number of those happened because Grimes left Haliburton nowhere to go, forcing the Indiana point guard to try squeezing passes through the paint that wound up intercepted.
Grimes is the glue that makes the starting lineup work. He provides elite perimeter defense on one end and crucial off-ball play on the other. He turned 11 attempts into 18 points while applying pressure to one of the league’s best up-and-coming prospects. As a result, Grimes receives a 4 out of 5.
RJ Barrett: 27 PTS (9/23 FG, 4/12 3PT, 5/6 FT), 4 AST, 8 REB, 2 TO in 41 mins
RJ Barrett came flying out of the gate. He knocked down a pair of early threes, then drove and finished against Indiana’s defense. Barrett returned from his six-game absence with a vengeance, making smart decisions, whether that meant shooting or passing. His lob connection to Mitch returned, along with some excellent kick out reads.
But Barrett ran out of legs by the fourth quarter. He shot just 1/7 in the final quarter of action, coming up short on multiple open threes. The returning wing struggled around screens, fouling Buddy Hield for a 4-point play. Barrett also picked up a bad turnover during that fourth-quarter struggle. To his credit, Barrett bounced back late with an assist to Brunson for a corner three and then a pair of clutch free throws.
These are Barrett’s most frustrating games, for my taste. He played an excellent game for three quarters, but the performance will likely be remembered for his tough fourth quarter. I suspect that 41 minutes are too much for a player that just spent two weeks injured. RJ picks up a 3.5 for giving us three quarters of a spectacular performance.
Julius Randle: 14 PTS (5/12 FG, 2/7 3PT, 2/4 FT), 4 AST, 16 REB, 1 BLK, 6 TO in 38 mins
The Pacers tweaked a tried and true strategy for keeping Julius Randle off-balance. Teams force the ball out of the big man’s hands by doubling, but Indy sent those doubles faster than expected. Instead of waiting for Randle to start an attack, Indiana blitzed him almost as soon as he touched the ball. The result was Randle’s highest turnover tally in 14 games.
But Randle’s transformation this season has been about refusing to let struggles take away from the rest of his game. The big man still grabbed 16 rebounds, found shooters out of double-teams, and came up with a big chase-down block during the close fourth quarter. The new look from Indiana threw Randle’s offense off-balance, but he found other ways to help New York win.
I’d also like to highlight Randle’s 12 attempts. Randle never attempted less than 18 shots while RJ Barrett was out. I think his reduction in attempts combines Indy’s faster doubles and Barrett’s ability to take some of the scoring burdens off Randle’s shoulders. Randle gets a 2.5 out of 5, losing points for his 6 turnovers in a performance that still felt reassuring.
Mitchell Robinson: 10 PTS (3/4 FG, 4/6 FT), 1 AST, 9 REB, 5 STL, 2 BLK in 38 mins
Mitchell Robinson put together another solid performance on paper that was even better than the numbers suggest. The Pacers were forced to send two and three bodies to keep him off the boards, and he still managed 9 rebounds. Thankfully, Indiana didn’t have Myles Turner, which meant any time Mitch had the ball in the paint, the Pacers were forced to foul. Robinson hit his first 4 attempts at the free-throw line to punish those fouls.
But Robinson’s defensive play stole the show again. He did a fantastic job of dropping against pick and rolls but staying in a position to threaten the ball handler while keeping the passing lane within reach. That clever positioning saw Mitch deflect and steal multiple pass attempts across the paint. His blocks were also emphatic, though he did risk a goaltend or two.
I’ll continue calling Mitchell Robinson the unsung piece of New York until the media starts bringing him up as an all-defense team candidate. Mitch doesn’t have the big block or steal numbers that typically mark a significant defensive contribution this season. However, he’s up to 0.9 steals per game to go along with 1.7 blocks per night, which is fifth-best in the league. Mitch gets a 4 out of 5 for a big night of steals, blocks, and rebounds.
More struggles, fewer opportunities for New York’s second unit
Miles McBride: 0 PTS (0/2 FG, 0/1 3PT), 1 STL in 6 mins
Miles McBride made a few attempts to get involved in the offense. I like that he cut inside the arc for a midrange catch-and-shoot opportunity. But the rugged defender didn’t make his shots. Deuce only played 1 minute in the second half before being pulled by Tom Thibodeau. He didn’t even get enough time to make an impact, whether positive or negative.
Immanuel Quickley: 11 PTS (3/9 FG, 1/7 3PT, 4/4 FT), 4 AST, 5 REB, 1 TO in 26 mins
Immanuel Quickley shot the ball poorly from range but did everything else well. He took smart shots; virtually every look was open, but nothing fell for him. IQ had more success going to the basket, where he finished a pair of tricky attempts in traffic and picked up a critical kick out assist with less than 30 seconds left in the match.
Quickley felt underutilized in the fourth quarter overall. The Pacers blitzed pick and rolls, which trapped the ball handlers (Brunson or Randle) and caused issues. I’d have loved to see New York feign a high pick and roll, then switch the action to an opposite wing with the two-man game going to IQ and RJ. The fourth-quarter struggles exemplify a need for more dynamic options to finish games.
I haven’t mentioned Quickley’s defense or rebounding. Those two aspects of his game have been fantastic all season, and that stayed true against Indy. I’m not concerned about the off-shooting night. IQ gets a 3 out of 5 for positive contributions everywhere but the three-point line.
Obi Toppin: 5 PTS (1/3 FG, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL in 9 mins
It’s been two games, and I want to see Obi Toppin receive more minutes. Obi moved the ball well, and I caught him boxing out a bit. He’s knocked down a three in both games back, also notching a steal in the process. Those might sound minor, but they’re promising for a player that only clocked 9 minutes in each game.
Toppin’s jumper looks promising, and he hasn’t been out there long enough for anyone to blame his defense for quick hooks. Julius Randle’s brilliant play might be better, or at least more efficient, with five to ten more minutes of rest. To Toppin’s credit, 5 points and 2 assists are strong production for less than 10 minutes of action.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 0 PTS (0/0 FG), 2 REB, 1 BLK in 9 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein’s argued with Isaiah Jackson after a hard foul against Immanuel Quickley. The two big men picked up a double technical for jawing at each other. That’s the most life we saw from Hart, who struggled to get involved in his 9 minutes of action.
I’ll repeat my sentiment from the last recap. If Tom Thibodeau can’t even find 10 minutes for Hartenstein off the bench, then it’s time to give Jericho Sims an opportunity.
Minutes management is dicey for Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau does not trust his bench, making second halves scary. The Knicks’ starters played a fantastic game through most of the three quarters. But they were out-hustled by Indiana’s bench after fatigue set in. The Pacers took their momentum from the late third into the fourth quarter, and Thibodeau went right back to his starters.
The starting lineup looked tired through most of the fourth quarter. Their jump shots were short, and they turned the ball over due to uncharacteristic lapses. This team consistently slows down in second halves, and that issue carries over from last season. Thibodeau has to find time to rest his starters.
I liked Thibodeau’s choice to go small late in the fourth quarter. The five-out approach gave space for a crucial drive and kick to Quentin Grimes. But there are larger rotation concerns that need to be addressed either by Thibodeau or the front office. Thibs gets a 2 out of 5 for failing to stop Indiana’s second-half momentum without another miraculous effort from Brunson.
Closing Thoughts
It hasn’t taken long for my frustrations with Tom Thibodeau’s rotations to return. I gave him leeway due to injuries to the roster, but I’m losing patience fast. I don’t apply performance ratings for players who receive less than fifteen minutes because I don’t find it fair. They never get a chance to get into the rhythm of the action.
But that limited action can cause issues every else as well. Only six players received more than 10 minutes of playing time against Indiana. It’s no wonder the Knicks ran out of steam and fought for their lives to hang on in crunch time. This is becoming a pattern, and we’ve seen them lose games in the final minutes of action too often, even as their play has improved.
The fatigue has been apparent in recent third quarters. That’s a quarter where the Knicks’ starters have recently lost steam as fresh-legged opposing benches attack them. But, by the time Thibodeau inserts his bench players, they’re up against opponents with momentum and rhythm. Then Thibs will give the second unit quick hooks before they can get a chance to catch up to the game’s tempo.
We’ll see if this problem persists against the Washington Wizards. Washington has a weak record, but they’ve played well lately. Hopefully, it doesn’t require multiple starters playing 40+ minutes to eke out a win. But we will meet back here and discuss the developments. I’ll see you then, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP talking with Dexter Henry about the Knicks’ performance up until the midway point of this season!
