Daltong called it. “I’m sure Indiana will look like an all star team tonight.” The Hoosiers may have entered the game 4–8 overall and 1–4 at home, but even while weathering the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, they have another gear they hit from time to time. For instance, on Veterans Day, when they ripped open the fourth quarter with 14 unanswered points. Or tonight, when they outscored the Knicks (6–6) by 13 early in the final frame and held on for a 106–104 win.
Tonight’s tilt at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
was another Group B game in the NBA Cup tourney. The Knicks were favored because they’re the more talented team on paper, but their effort showed up too late to steal the win. They were simply out-hustled for most of the game. In the positive column, Karl-Anthony Towns registered his twelfth straight double-double (23 PTS, 15 RBS), breaking Willis Reed’s franchise record for consecutive double-doubles to start a season. And Mikal Bridges took 12 shots! For 18 points! On the less positive side, Josh Hart went scoreless on four shots, the Knicks lost the paint by 20 and second-chance points by nine, and yet again they attempted double-digit fewer free throws than their opponent (IND 18-of-25, NYK 10-of-13).
Shield your eyes from all this yellow.
The game started inelegantly, with Andrew Nembhard (12 PTS, 4-14 FG, 6 AST, 6 TO) taking the opening tip in for an easy layup. At the other end, Hart thought KAT was going to cut. Instead, KAT crowded Jalen Brunson (33 PTS, 11-22 FG, 11 AST, +8) along the arc, and Nembhard deflected Hart’s pass out of bounds. That kind of confusion is predictable this early in the season, especially with Hart having missed a few games already. So is KAT’s ability to steamroll Ivica Zubac (12 PTS, 13 RBS) for snacks at the cup.
OG Anunoby (11 PTS, 4-13 FG, +8) laced an early triple when Hart noticed that Pascal Siakam (19 PTS, 5-13 FG) was napping in transition. OG and Pascal have a history, and they made each other’s jobs difficult for most of the night. (After that three, OG would make two of his next seven attempts.)
The Knicks took control with a 9–0 run that turned a 9–9 tie into an 18–9 lead. Towns scored seven of those nine and finished the quarter with 12 points and three rebounds. The oft-maligned Bridges chipped in six points and a steal (welcome back!), and Hart had four boards and three dimes. Brunson scored just two points but set up three baskets before picking up his second foul, an offensive foul, and heading to the bench.
Jay Huff brought Indiana back with eight quick points off the bench, including two threes and an alley-oop from that pest T.J. McConnell. Miles McBride answered with a longball, but the Knicks went more than three minutes without scoring after that. Deuce missed his next three attempts, Shamet bricked a couple, and Huff blocked Andre Drummond at the rim. Indiana went on a 15–5 run, taking a 24–23 lead on an OAKAAKUYOAK Obi Toppin bank shot. Towns returned and restored the lead with a driving and-one. The good guys were up 27–26 at the horn.
If you enjoyed the stanky shooting and one-and-dones of the first quarter, the Knicks cordially invited you to more of the same in the second. OG tied it at 31 on another Towns-as-hub laser, then Indy rattled off a 13–4 run. Toppin laced a three and finished a fast break, while Zubac elbowed his way to three O-boards on one possession before putting it in. No Diawara tonight, but Pacôme Dadiet made a brief (as in one minute) appearance in the second.
Yet again, free throws were the biggest bugaboo. In their last game, the Knicks shot 14 fewer free throws than Cleveland. In tonight’s second quarter, Indiana went 13-of-17 while New York shot . . . 1-of-2. Call the vet! These zebras have rabies!
Brunson scored half of the team’s 22 second-quarter points. Towns grabbed six rebounds but scored just two points, and Josh Hart, Landry Shamet, and Miles McBride all fired blanks. Aaron Nesmith scored six straight, the last on a technical free throw after Mike Brown drew a tech, to stretch Indiana’s lead to 14. Brunson hit a turnaround and fed Tyler Kolek for a late three to regain some ground. Indy led 58–49 at the break.
Through the first half, our heroes were dishing the ball fine, with seven more assists than the Hoosiers. Rebounds and points in the paint were basically a dead heat. The voodoo was in the fouls. The Knicks had committed twice as many as the Pacers (14–7). And somehow Rick Carlisle found it necessary to complain about the calls.
On to the third. Cap was cooking, with 16 points and four dimes. The Knicks needed it all and then some. Brunson led an 8–0 run that brought New York within five, but the comeback stalled before they could get back to black. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nesmith each scored seven in the period, Zubac added six points and five boards, and the hosts were up by 14 again.
From there, the Knicks closed on a 15–2 run to get within a point. McBride hit two bombs, Shamet added one, and Drummond grabbed three defensive boards and a steal. Deuce and Anunoby both missed chances to take the lead in the final eight seconds, so the Knicks went into the fourth trailing 85–84.
From there, two scenarios were possible. Either the Champs would maintain their momentum and turn back those pesky Pacers, or Indy would do what they did against the Wiz on Wednesday and go on some crazy run. ’Twas the latter, fans. After Anunoby tied it at 87, the hosts answered with a 15–2 run. Nembhard scored six points in the quarter, Oubre added five points and two steals, and Zubac finished with nine offensive boards. The Knicks kept fumbling and bumbling the ball away. This time Captain Clutch couldn’t save them either, managing only four points in the fourth after scoring 16 in the third.
New York still had a shot to tie it in the final minute. Brunson’s layup with 26 seconds left cut the deficit to four, and after Siakam missed both free throws, Bridges (!) hit a pull-up to make it 106–104. Anunoby picked off Siakam’s pass with three seconds left, but Towns missed a 15-foot turnaround and the Pacers held on. Ballgame.
If you’re feeling testy after another loss, so is Jose Alvarado. Evidently, he and Quenton Jackson have prior history of physical scrapes (including an altercation when Alvarado was still with the Pelicans). He might be out of the rotation, but Jose is always ready to roll!
Up Next
Up to Toronto our heroes go to play the Raps on Sunday. This is your recap, chaps. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
