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.
Domantas Sabonis was the lone efficient machine for the Indiana Pacers against the Knicks
With virtually everyone having an off night shooting the basketball, Domantas Sabonis managed to defy the bright lights of the Big Apple and had it going on the offensive end for the most part, finishing with 21 points and 15 rebounds on eight of 15 shooting from the field and a surprising three of four from three-point land.
After struggling a tad scoring the ball throughout the Indiana Pacers’ Western Conference road trip, Domas managed to end up with his highest scoring output since their victory against the Spurs to kick off November.
While Sabonis’ miss on a late game bunny was glaring enough that it immediately sparked a late New York run, he was the lone Pacer to have an efficient night.
However, his minutes were once again in the 40s, the most in the game for both teams by a wide margin. With Indiana reeling against New York’s grinding defense, the coaching staff really didn’t have much option to set up their scoring attack with their perimeter creators failing to dial in from all over the floor amidst Duarte’s absence.
Still, Sabonis was perhaps the Pacers’ only bright spot in their collapse to the Knicks. Hopefully, this is the tipping point for the All-Star to return to his peak form and give Indiana a better chance to close out teams, especially on the road, where they have struggled to generate much offense for the most part.
Honorable Mention: Malcolm Brogdon
Myles Turner was hardly felt by the Indiana Pacers against the Knicks
Rather surprisingly, Myles Turner was a statistical no-show for the Indiana Pacers against the Knicks, turning in his lowest scoring output of the season with just three points in 31 minutes, with his lone basket coming from downtown, albeit in four tries.
While Turner, who has been splendid this season, remained a big factor on the defensive end, still managing to block two shots, he was completely bothered by New York’s defense, failing to even establish himself in position to spot up from the perimeter or dive to the rim.
On multiple occasions, Turner misread the offense, clogging the lane instead of spacing out in pick-and-rolls simultaneously as the team’s other slashers penetrate to get open.
With opponents becoming more aware of Myles’ increasing proficiency as a three-point shooter, he may find it tougher to get open looks as the season runs its course. The Knicks did this to a great degree, cleverly letting their wings switch over to him to prevent the big man from hoisting shots from downtown.
Still, no one should overreact on this aberration of a game from Myles Turner. If anything, this should give the coaching staff and the center himself a lot of morsels to make adjustments from, which Rick Carlisle himself acknowledged after the game.
(Dis)honorable Mentions: Caris LeVert, TJ McConnell