The Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks brought the heat in a thrilling matchup that showcased some of the league’s most promising talent and established stars. With playoff implications intensifying and team chemistry hitting peak form, both squads delivered a gritty, high-intensity contest that kept fans on edge from the first tip to the final buzzer.

First Half: Knicks Take Early Command

The Knicks came out of the gates aggressive on both ends of the court. Julius Randle set the tone early, hitting back-to-back mid-range jumpers and asserting himself in the paint. New York’s defensive strategy focused on disrupting Tyrese Haliburton’s rhythm, and it worked to an extent, forcing him into tough shots in the early going.

RJ Barrett slashed into the lane with conviction, contributing 12 first-half points. The Knicks moved the ball well, with Jalen Brunson orchestrating the offense efficiently and feeding the hot hands.

Halftime Score: Knicks 58, Pacers 51

The Pacers managed to stay in the game thanks to Myles Turner’s presence in the paint, both defensively and as a scoring option. Buddy Hield provided spacing and hit a couple of key threes that prevented the Knicks from building a double-digit lead heading into the break.

Second Half: Haliburton Comes Alive

Whatever Rick Carlisle said in the locker room lit a fire under Tyrese Haliburton. The third-year guard came out attacking in the second half, showing his trademark creativity and passing vision. He scored 14 points in the third quarter alone and notched 5 assists during that stretch.

The Pacers increased their pace and pushed the tempo — a move that started to wear on the Knicks’ half-court defense. Bennedict Mathurin brought energy off the bench, hitting timely shots and sparking a 10-2 run late in the third that tied the game.

Fourth Quarter: Down to the Wire

With the game knotted at 89 going into the fourth, both teams tightened up defensively. Josh Hart made key plays on the perimeter for the Knicks, while Isaiah Hartenstein controlled the glass. The Knicks’ second-chance opportunities, however, were quickly matched by the Pacers’ transition scoring.

In the final two minutes, Jalen Brunson hit a step-back jumper to give the Knicks a brief lead, but Tyrese Haliburton answered with a cold-blooded three-pointer from the wing. With 14 seconds left, the game was tied at 108.

Brunson drove into the lane for the final possession but was met by Myles Turner, who swatted the shot and preserved the tie. In overtime, the Pacers pulled away behind clutch plays from Hield and a dagger three from Mathurin.

Final Score: Pacers 119, Knicks 114 (OT)

Full Player Stats Breakdown

Indiana Pacers

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG	3PT	FT
Tyrese Haliburton	28	5	11	2	0	10-18	3-7	5-5
Buddy Hield	21	4	3	1	0	7-13	5-9	2-2
Myles Turner	17	9	1	0	4	7-11	1-2	2-3
Bennedict Mathurin	16	3	2	1	0	6-12	2-4	2-2
Aaron Nesmith	8	6	1	1	1	3-8	1-3	1-2
Bench (combined)	29	12	6	2	1	11-20	2-5	5-6

New York Knicks

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG	3PT	FT
Jalen Brunson	26	3	7	1	0	9-19	2-6	6-6
Julius Randle	22	8	3	0	1	8-15	1-3	5-7
RJ Barrett	18	5	2	1	0	7-14	1-2	3-4
Josh Hart	11	7	4	2	0	4-8	1-3	2-2
Isaiah Hartenstein	6	10	2	0	2	2-4	0-0	2-2
Bench (combined)	31	13	5	3	1	12-22	3-6	4-5

Key Takeaways

1. Haliburton’s Poise Under Pressure

Tyrese Haliburton proved once again why he’s one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. His ability to orchestrate the offense, shoot from deep, and make clutch plays was the driving force behind Indiana’s comeback.

2. Knicks’ Rebounding Advantage Wasted

Despite winning the rebounding battle 45-39, the Knicks failed to capitalize fully on their second-chance opportunities. Missed free throws and turnovers down the stretch hurt their momentum.

3. Bench Depth Helped Pacers in OT

Indiana’s bench outperformed New York’s in crunch time. Mathurin and Obi Toppin (ironically, a former Knick) were impactful, combining for efficient scoring and providing fresh legs in overtime.

4. Turner’s Interior Defense

Myles Turner’s late-game block on Brunson epitomized his impact. His presence in the paint disrupted New York’s drives and helped the Pacers shift momentum when it mattered most.

Final Thoughts

The Pacers’ ability to adapt, speed up the tempo, and trust their young core paid off in a tough road win. Meanwhile, the Knicks showed promise but still need to find late-game consistency and defensive focus to close out tight matchups.

As both teams continue to jostle for playoff positioning, this game will likely be remembered as a tone-setter — gritty, competitive, and loaded with standout performances on both sides.

Pacers vs. Knicks Game – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who was the top scorer of the game?

Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) led all scorers with 28 points, including clutch baskets in the fourth quarter and overtime. He also added 11 assists, highlighting his all-around impact.

2. How did Jalen Brunson perform against the Pacers?

Brunson had a strong outing with 26 points and 7 assists, but struggled at times to finish against Myles Turner’s interior defense. His late-game attempt to seal the win was blocked by Turner.

3. Which team had the better bench performance?

Indiana Pacers. Their bench contributed 29 points, with standout efforts from Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin, compared to 31 from the Knicks, though Indiana’s bench made bigger plays during crunch time.

4. How did Julius Randle impact the game?

Randle scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, setting the tone early with physical play. However, he faded slightly in the second half as the Pacers tightened up defensively.

5. What was the turning point of the game?

The 10-2 Pacers run in the third quarter, led by Haliburton and Mathurin, shifted momentum. It helped Indiana erase a Knicks lead and forced New York into a more reactive, less controlled offense.

6. Did Myles Turner dominate defensively?

Yes. Turner had 4 blocks, including a game-saving swat on Brunson in the final seconds of regulation. He was also efficient offensively, shooting 7-11 from the field.

7. Who was the most efficient three-point shooter?

Buddy Hield (Pacers) hit 5 of 9 three-point attempts (55%), spacing the floor perfectly and hitting a crucial three in overtime.

8. Which team had more turnovers?

The Knicks had slightly more turnovers (14) compared to the Pacers’ 11, which proved costly during overtime, where Indiana capitalized on key mistakes.

9. How did the teams compare in rebounding?

Knicks: 45 rebounds
Pacers: 39 rebounds

The Knicks had a rebounding edge, largely due to Isaiah Hartenstein’s 10 boards, but failed to convert many of those into second-chance points.

10. Was this game a playoff preview?

Possibly. With both teams fighting for mid-tier playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, this matchup felt like a potential first-round preview, showcasing gritty defense, big-time plays, and tight execution.

11. How many assists did Haliburton record?

11 assists. He was the game’s top playmaker, facilitating ball movement and creating scoring opportunities with his court vision and patience.

12. What did the Pacers do differently in overtime?

They:

Sped up the tempo
Switched to aggressive ball-screen action
Trusted their shooters (Hield, Mathurin)
Focused defensively on forcing Brunson left

This strategy helped them pull away for the win.

13. Any injury updates from the game?

There were no major injuries reported during the game. A few players had minor knocks (typical in a physical contest), but nothing that required medical attention beyond standard in-game treatment.

14. Who guarded Julius Randle the most?

Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin shared primary assignments on Randle, with help defense often coming from Myles Turner on post-ups. Their combined effort forced him into some tough contested looks.

15. How did the Knicks shoot from the free-throw line?

The Knicks went 18-for-24 (75%), with a few crucial misses in the fourth quarter. Those lost points came back to haunt them in such a close game.

Pacers vs knicks match player stats