The New York Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers 130-109, bringing the season to an end. The bittersweet ending doesn’t change the fact this was a special year.
The Knicks’ season ended with a Game Seven loss to the Indiana Pacers 130-109. They were too injury-riddled to maintain their defensive intensity, and Indiana capitalized.
OG Anunoby started the game but could barely move around the court. Josh Hart made an incredible effort but couldn’t consistently match with Pascal Siakam. That left the Knicks to use cross-matches on defense with double-teams and help defense as a sort of band-aid for mismatches. The scheme didn’t stand a chance against a team that shoots like Indiana.
But the Knicks didn’t give up. They trailed by 15 points to start the second half and battled to creep within seven in the third quarter. That’s when a Deuce McBride turnover ended with Jalen Brunson fracturing his hand during the ensuing fast break. The Pacers’ lead ballooned from there despite New York continuing to fight.
The ending feels unfair but fitting. New York had fought through injuries since January, and the wounds continued to accumulate into their final game in May. The team showed resilience in fighting to a second seed and came within a game of the Eastern Conference Finals. They gave us a season to be proud of and fought until the end.
I won’t deride the players for this tough game, so this recap will often reflect on players’ contributions for the year. Let’s get into one last recap for a truly incredible season.
The Knicks’ starters struggle to get in sync
Jalen Brunson: 17 PTS (6/17 FG, 1/3 3PT, 4/5 FT), 9 AST, 1 TO in 29 mins
Jalen Brunson started the game with a bucket but never got into a comfortable rhythm shooting. The Pacers sent extra help his way, and Brunson responded with dimes to his teammates. But the Knicks’ star never got into a scoring flow.
Brunson broke his hand in a freak accident. Tyrese Haliburton went up on a fast break, and Brunson swiped at the ball but appeared to hit Haliburton’s elbow or knee. The injury sent New York’s star to the locker and spelled the end of his season.
It’s an unfortunate end to one of the greatest seasons most of us have seen from a Knick. Before the foot and hand injuries, Brunson provided postseason scoring comparable to only the greats. The diminutive guard debunked any claims that his height precludes him from leading a contender.
Brunson gets a 2 out of 5 for the game, but his season is the best I’ve ever witnessed for a Knick point guard. I don’t think anyone can deny that New York has a star.
Donte DiVincenzo: 39 PTS (11/21 FG, 9/15 3PT, 8/10 FT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL, 4 TO in 41 mins
Donte DiVincenzo tried to carry the Knicks’ offense by himself. After Brunson and OG left the game, DiVincenzo continued to shoot and make shots, forcing Indiana to remain vigilant. When Tyrese Haliburton got too comfortable, DiVo got in his grill. The Knicks sharpshooter let everyone know that New York wouldn’t back down.
DiVo’s game is a reflection of his season. DiVincenzo stepped up each time a new player got hurt. Grimes struggled early, and the Big Ragu claimed the starting role. With Randle out, New York needed more offense, and DiVo delivered. If Brunson didn’t have it, DiVincenzo was the next scorer to step up.
Let’s not forget that DiVincenzo set the record for three-pointers in a single season on the Knicks. He gave New York more than any of us could have hoped for in his debut season and added an edge to the team during tough playoff battles. DiVincenzo gets a 5 out of 5 for the game, and his season wouldn’t score much less if I rated it.
Josh Hart: 10 PTS (3/9 FG, 0/4 3PT, 4/4 FT), 5 AST, 8 REB, 2 STL in 37 mins
Josh Hart dealt with an abdominal injury that would sideline most players. He didn’t match up with Pascal Siakam like we’d seen in prior games, but he fought and stayed on the court for 37 minutes. Hart gave New York a valuable effort on the glass and as a playmaker.
You could catch Hart’s injury when he tried to shoot from a distance. I assume extending into the jumpers hurt because every three he shot fell short. He wore an impressive poker face, but he obviously wasn’t healthy.
Hart’s injury feels like the true moment of doom for this season. Once he got hurt, New York was out of wing defenders for Siakam and low on defenders in general. Hart felt like the embodiment of the team this season. The energizer was thrust into a more prominent role due to injuries—not only did he embrace the opportunity, but he also rose to the occasion.
Hart’s heroic effort gets a 2.5 out of 5, but his season is far better and more impactful than that single-game score.
OG Anunoby: 5 PTS (2/2 FG, 1/1 3PT) in 5 mins
OG Anunoby tried to give New York a Willis Reed moment. He came in and knocked down a pair of quick jumpers. But OG’s movement was severely limited. The Pacers moved the ball quickly, and Anunoby’s rotations couldn’t keep up. So, OG sat after only five minutes of action.
Anunoby’s season is what we’ll point to for our “what if” conversations. The Knicks were 20-3 with OG playing in the regular season, but he only played 23 games because of injuries. New York looked lethal again when he returned for the postseason, and the Pacers didn’t win a game until after Anunoby’s hamstring injury.
New York found a defender that made everything click. Sadly, we barely got to see him play with a healthy roster. But if the Knicks made zero changes in the offseason and ran it back with the same team, we could be confident that the healthy squad could compete with any team in the league.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 0 PTS (0/2 FG), 2 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 30 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein never looked the same after falling on his shoulder a while back. His shot volume tanked after the injury, and his floater stopped falling. I-Hart’s rebounding stayed strong but not as impactful as before. Even his defense in the lanes felt like a shadow compared to his prior rim protection.
Hartenstein’s free agency is one of the most interesting parts of the offseason. He stepped into a starting role and thrived. The Knicks have Mitchell Robinson, but Mitch has injury concerns that can’t be denied. Even when Robinson is healthy, Hartenstein complements Mitch by adding passing and spacing. They’re a two-headed monster that I’d like to keep.
But Big Hart has earned a payday. If another team offers I-Hart 20 million dollars a season, the Knicks can’t match it. So, his negotiation is tricky. But I really hope Hartenstein sticks around in New York. The big man gets a 2 out of 5 for this game, but his season was far more valuable.
New York’s second unit gets a gem from Burks
Miles McBride: 8 PTS (4/14 FG, 0/6 3PT), 2 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 40 mins
Miles McBride entered the game after five minutes and barely sat after. He had nice moments scoring off the dribble but couldn’t get any jumpers to fall. His confidence in his jumper seemed shaken as he passed up an open look and turned the ball over in a crucial third-quarter play.
But Deuce found ways to produce. He got after rebounds and fought defensively, though Haliburton got the best of him this time. McBride played scrappy basketball and helped where he could. He had a rough game, but it still carried hallmarks of a play style we’ve all come to appreciate.
In one season, he went from an afterthought to a crucial rotation piece. I’m proud of the progress we’ve seen and excited to see how he develops from here. He has a jumper now, attacks the basket well, and his awareness as a passer has improved. Deuce ends the season on a 1.5 out of 5 performance, but I’m hopeful that he enters the Sixth Man of the Year conversation next year.
Alec Burks: 26 PTS (8/13 FG, 2/5 3PT, 8/8 FT), 2 AST, 3 REB in 27 mins
Alec Burks gave DiVincenzo and the Knicks much-needed scoring support. He entered the game and got to work, hitting tough shots throughout the night. Nothing felt wasted for the vet, who scored 26 points on just thirteen attempts. He never stopped making his touches count.
It’s hard to review Burks’s season fairly. He dealt with a shoulder injury, but we never received clarification on how bad it was. His regular-season struggles seem related to the injury because when he got opportunities in the postseason, Burks rose to the occasion.
I doubt Burks will return, with New York having limited roster space and cap to spare. He’s an unrestricted free agent and might find more opportunities on another roster. But I’m glad Burks ended his year by reminding us how good he can be. Burks’ final game gets a 4 out of 5 for insane scoring efficiency.
Precious Achiuwa: 4 PTS (2/7 FG, 0/1 3PT), 1 AST in 28 mins
Precious Achiuwa ended the season on a tough night. He had to play power forward minutes, which wasn’t easy for the big man in this series. The big man tried to contain Pascal Siakam but felt stretched thin trying to contain his former teammate while also helping others.
Indiana kept Achiuwa off the glass, which limited his impact. Precious didn’t get the easy putbacks of his previous performances, and his efficiency tanked. But I respected Achiuwa’s effort, and we know he can provide more than that last game showed.
Precious played the best basketball of his career, filling in for injured Knicks. From the middle of January until the end of the season, Achiuwa stepped up whenever New York needed minutes. He flashed the potential to be a quality piece on a great team, though the rough edges to his game are undeniable. Precious gets a 1 out of 5 for the challenging game, but I’ll always appreciate his role in this season.
Tom Thibodeau’s due for a raise
Tom Thibodeau faced an impossible task once it became clear that OG Anunoby couldn’t play. With Josh Hart hobbled, Thibodeau was all out of wing defenders. He often used Isaiah Hartenstein on Pascal Siakam, but the Center ran into foul trouble and help defenders left shooters open.
Thibodeau spent the entire season getting the most out of his players. He found solutions for every injury but ran out of players. The fact that New York made it this far with so many injuries proves that Thibodeau accomplished something extraordinary. He’s earned a new contract for giving the Knicks a clear structure for players to thrive.
I’m excited to see if New York brings in young players with their picks and the impending arrival of Rokas Jokubaitis. Young players have developed nicely under Thibodeau, and I’ll be curious to see if the pattern continues.
Closing Thoughts:
It’s a bittersweet ending to a season that felt like it could have been more. The Knicks overcame many hurdles to get here, and the basketball gods threw more injuries in the way. So, it hurts to see New York depleted in their loss and to know they could have pushed farther with just a bit of injury luck.
That said, I won’t linger on the negative—not after the season we just witnessed. The Knicks played a game that was fearless but devoid of ego. They rose to every challenge and helped each other through the toughest moments of the season. I’ve never been more proud of a roster than this team.
The Knicks have no reason to hang their heads. I’ll appreciate every player who had a role this season, even those who were traded. They all helped give me the most exciting season of this millennium. I’m grateful for the special year we just witnessed.
As the offseason approaches, I’ll take a break to recharge. But the offseason brings its own set of interesting decisions, developments, and discussions. So, I’m sure we’ll have plenty to discuss soon.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my recaps! Thanks to KFTV for the inspiration to keep writing. I’ll add special appreciation to Alex and Jalen, who edited my work, and Gamba for all the fantastic graphics. Thanks, everyone! I’ll see you all next time, Knicks fam!
