After showing encouraging signs with their play recently, the Indiana Pacers faced a roadblock away from home, losing to the New York Knicks in a defensive battle, snapping their win streak and falling to 6-9 on the season.
While the Pacers led most of the game, even mounting a 12-point lead late halfway through the third quarter, the Knicks badly outplayed them in the final period, outscoring Indiana 23-10 to erase a tight five-point deficit heading into the fourth frame. New York’s starters failed to generate much rhythm against the Pacers’ defense, but their deep cast of reserves delivered the goods for them throughout the contest.
The Indiana Pacers succumb in a slugfest to the New York Knicks
Missing Chris Duarte, Indiana shot poorly from the field, shooting a season-worst 37.2 percent overall, including a putrid 21.6 percent rate on triples, another low point for the Pacers so far in their campaign. The Knicks shot just 43 percent, but their bench badly outscored the Blue and Gold’s second unit, 44-13, allowing them to pull away late.
Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers in scoring with 22 points and continued his solid all-around game this year with eight rebounds and seven assists. Domantas Sabonis chipped in a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double, even draining three triples in a stale offensive night for both teams, one short of his season-high.
One the flip side, New York rode Immanuel Quickley’s hot shooting, as the sophomore guard finished with a team-high 16 points. Point guards Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose combined for 30 markers, negating RJ Barrett and Julius Randle’s subpar showing against the Pacers.
Before the Indiana Pacers make a quick turnaround for their first meeting of the season against the Detroit Pistons, here is one stud and one dud from their disappointing loss to the New York Knicks.