The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 109-106. This game came down to the wire, but the Knicks big three got the job done.
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The New York Knicks won a hard-fought battle against the Indiana Pacers, 109 to 106. No team held a double-digit lead as the teams jockeyed back and forth without creating much separation. New York relied on trips to the rim and free-throw line, while Indiana kept pace through three-point shooting.
The teams traded leads throughout the action, but New York spent most of the fourth quarter fighting back from a deficit. However, the Knicks maintained composure and executed well behind Jalen Brunson’s leadership late. Their strong play in the closing minutes helped steal a lead and finish the game at the free-throw line.
The Knicks have won seven games in a row. Whether they win in blowouts, by close calls, lead throughout the game, or battle back from behind, the New York Knicks are finding ways to win. So let’s review how the Knicks came up big against the Pacers.
New York’s big three come through again
Jalen Brunson: 30 PTS (11/22 FG, 3/3 3PT, 5/5 FT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 2 STL, 4 TO in 35 mins
Jalen Brunson continued a hot streak that started against the Chicago Bulls. He shot over 50 percent from the field for the third consecutive game and seemed to accumulate most of his points every time the Pacers was poised for a run. Brunson has been a master of timely buckets all season long, but this recent stretch has included chains of three-pointers that weren’t falling prior. The Knicks’ leader is shooting 67 percent from three over the past three games, making 12 out of 18 tries during that stretch.
Brunson added another 2 steals to his tally. He’s jumping passing lanes with keen anticipation for where players want to go. That’s been evident by the steals he picks up on kick outs to the corner, but this game included a second steal near the top of the key during the waning moments of action. The diminutive point guard has his weaknesses on defense, but he’s making up for them by forcing multiple turnovers each night.
Jalen Brunson continues to lead New York to success. He’s the leader of this team, helping them find composure when the game might otherwise slip away. The team picked him up when he struggled through lumps and bruises, and now he’s back with a vengeance. Brunson picks up 4.5 out of 5, needing more playmaking and fewer turnovers to go even higher.
Quentin Grimes: 6 PTS (1/3 FG, 1/3 3PT, 3/4 FT), 2 AST, 6 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO in 32 mins
Quentin Grimes started the game off by dealing some nice passes. But he was glaringly omitted from most offensive possessions. The sharpshooter spent most of the game as a decoy while the rest of the scorers worked inside. That’s unfortunate because he didn’t get opportunities to continue his hot shooting from three.
Grimes’ defense was even better than his numbers suggest. His four combined blocks and steals are a nice touch, but the 5/16 next to Tyrese Halliburton’s name is Grimes’ most impressive mark on the stat sheet. New York’s shutdown defender contained the Pacers’ lead ball-handler and forced him into tough possessions all game.
Grimes’ off-ball approach can bite him if there are too many hot hands in the offense. Players will naturally look him off when they’ve got it going. But I still want to see him take on a more assertive role to ensure his spacing takes full effect. That said, his defense alone warranted a positive impact score, and his offense was solid with the few touches he had.
Grimes gets a 3 out of 5 for locking up a great point guard.
RJ Barrett: 24 PTS (10/19 FG, 0/5 3PT, 4/5 FT), 4 REB, 1 BLK, 5 TO in 42 mins
RJ Barrett couldn’t buy a jumper, so he stopped shooting and beat the Pacers inside repeatedly. Barrett pumped in 16 points before halftime and continued to finish at the rim for the rest of the game. Some errant passes and bad turnovers dogged his second-half performance, but he still played quality basketball.
Barrett forced Buddy Hield to knock down some tough contested shots, but he could have had a better night defensively. Sadly, Hield got hot off of open looks and soft closeouts, so it was too late to slow him down when Barrett decided to tighten his defense. But to his credit, Barrett is moving better defensively, translating to 4 blocks over the past four games after accumulating just 2 across the first 26 games of the season.
The compelling part of RJ’s recent run is the amount of room for growth despite his big production. Barrett made some nice passes that players missed, but his playmaking still has a leap to take. His jump shot is more consistent than before, but it’s still building. He put up a 3.5 impact thanks to efficient scoring in bunches, but RJ’s barely scratched the surface of his potential.
Julius Randle: 25 PTS (7/17 FG, 2/8 3PT, 9/12 FT), 3 AST, 14 REB, 3 TO in 39 mins
Julius Randle’s jumper abandoned him for a second straight game. But he limited his jump shot attempts, got to the free throw line, and had an outsized positive impact without needing to be a lethal shooter. The Pacers kept smaller defenders on Randle (primarily Aaron Nesmith), with quick double-team help from longer teammates. That reduced Randle’s ability to make quick passes, but it allowed him to draw many fouls and sneak in a few offensive rebounds for putbacks.
Randle’s attention to detail on defense cost him. Aaron Nesmith found openings and beat Randle to loose balls, pouring on 23 points while he only averages 9 per game. But Randle redeemed himself somewhat when he switched to cover Tyrese Haliburton for two decisive possessions at the end of the game. Haliburton missed both shots because Randle guarded him well.
Given Randle’s circumstances, his 25 points and 14 rebounds are even more impressive. The Pacers accepted that they couldn’t stop the big man one-on-one and sent double-teams at him from the opening tip. Randle found teammates and still poured in scoring despite the additional attention. Randle earns a 4 out of 5 for taking what the defense gave him in a big way.
Mitchell Robinson: 10 PTS (4/5 FG, 2/4 FT), 2 AST, 13 REB, 1 STL, 4 BLK, 1 TO in 32 mins
Mitchell Robinson grabbed 8 rebounds and tallied all 4 of his blocks before the first half ended. He established his presence inside, and the Pacers became a jump-shooting team for most of the match. I keep saying that Robinson’s defensive contributions go beyond measure; this was another example. But in terms of measurement, Robinson’s fourth block was his 500th as a New York Knick.
The big man also controlled the offensive glass to the tune of 5 boards. If he catches the ball in the paint, he’s dunking or going to the free-throw line. Robinson has grabbed 11.4 rebounds per game over the last ten games because he’s imposing his will against every match-up.
Robinson is a game-changing defender and a crucial presence on the offensive glass for a team that doesn’t shoot well. This recent stretch might be the best basketball he’s ever played, as he’s kept fouling to a minimum while dominating the middle at both ends. Robinson gets a 4 out of 5 for his double-double and paint protection.
The Knicks’ bench lacks punch
Deuce McBride: 3 PTS (1/4 FG, 1/4 3PT), 1 REB, 1 STL in 13 mins
Miles McBride shot the ball more confidently than we’ve seen all season. He attempted three-pointers when he had space and didn’t let missed shots deter him. His only made shot came after three misses. I expect his lack of hesitation to lead to improved shooting over time, even though he struggled in this game.
I’m running out of new ways to describe McBride’s defense. He’s always in opponents’ grills, and I especially enjoyed watching him chase around the crafty TJ McConnell. McBride’s performance warrants a 2 out of 5, with room to grow if he adds more production on top of the stops he produces.
Immanuel Quickley: 5 PTS (2/8 FG, 1/2 3PT), 2 AST, 1 REB, 1 STL in 22 mins
Immanuel Quickley looks out of sync. His shot selection was poor, and he passed up shots or hesitated when there were openings to exploit. IQ still manages some trips into the teeth of the defense every game, but his attempts have been rimming in and out recently. That trend continued as he struggled to make a mark on offense against the Pacers.
Quickley still pieced together a solid defensive performance to warrant decent minutes. He showed off active hands and crisp rotations. It’s nothing new but deserves mention.
IQ has to produce more on offense to keep the Knicks’ second unit alive and to take some weight off the starting lineup. But his defensive play fits in with the shutdown defense coming from every bench player. I trust he’ll find his offensive rhythm soon, but the bench was outscored tonight, and Quickley leads that unit. So IQ gets a 1.5 out of 5 for his inefficient shooting.
Jericho Sims: 4 PTS (2/3 FG), 2 REB, 1 TO in 9 mins
Jericho Sims spends enough time on the court to impress with his athleticism but not enough to make a significant positive or negative impact. He finished a nice alley-oop dunk and flew after the rebounds in his vicinity. But Sims felt Tom Thibodeau’s wrath due to a late contest against a finisher inside. He sat shortly after and didn’t see the floor again.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 2 PTS (1/2 FG, 0/1 3PT), 2 AST, 6 REB, 2 BLK in 16 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein made his sole field goal of the game on a tip-in. That’s ironic compared to the last match when Hartenstein missed multiple putback opportunities. However, Hart’s real value showed up as he attacked the weak side when teams double-teamed RJ Barrett. Barrett passed out of double-teams to Hartenstein, who kicked to open teammates before the defenders could recover.
Hartenstein picked up a pair of blocks by meeting players at the rim and rising straight up. Furthermore, he dropped to the hoop but stepped up with well-timed challenges against slashers. Hart also cleared the glass well on the defensive end. It’s enough for Hart to score a 2.5 for impact, with room to score higher if he produced with more touches or playing time.
The Knicks’ success fits Tom Thibodeau’s profile
The Knicks are winning games and doing it Tom Thibodeau’s way. That means a tight rotation with the starters playing a lot of minutes. It means three-point attempts are winding down, but trips to the free-throw line are increasing. The Knicks are playing a gritty kind of basketball that perfectly aligns with Thibodeau’s coaching approach.
We did see an intriguing tweak to Thibodeau’s usual defense. Late in the game, he allowed Julius Randle to rotate onto Tyrese Haliburton instead of forcing Grimes to fight through the screen. We’ve seen Randle switching more often, but this was crunch-time action matched with the Pacers best ball-handler. The move worked out, and Thibodeau’s trust was rewarded as Randle got a pair of crucial stops.
As long as the Knicks are winning, it’s tough to complain about anything Thibodeau does. This entire streak has been a positive reflection of Thibodeau’s coaching approach, and he deserves all the props he gets. Thibodeau nails down a 5 out of 5 for helping New York navigate a tight game to conclude a week on the road.
Closing Thoughts
The Knicks’ run continues, and they’re coming home after playing four of their last five games on the road. That’s interesting because they’ve played better basketball on the road this season. New York’s 10-6 in opposing arenas, the second-best road record in the NBA. At home, they’re 7-7, which isn’t too shabby but could be better.
That’s where this four-game stretch fits in. New York’s first three games are against teams that are reeling. They’ll see the Golden State Warriors without Steph Curry, the Toronto Raptors on a five-game losing streak, and the Chicago Bulls (again) on a four-game losing. These are golden opportunities to establish home dominance before a Christmas showdown with the fifth-seeded 76ers.
The Knicks have proven that they’re legitimate. They’ve established an identity that suits the fans in New York and Tom Thibodeau. But New York’s next step toward contention begins with defending their home court.
The Knicks play the Warriors on Tuesday, and I’ll be back to recap and review the performances. Let’s see how they handle a West Coast visitor and discuss it here. 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’s analysis on SNY’s Sportsnite!
