The Indiana Pacers delivered a statement victory over the New York Knicks 132-121 on Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.
The sellout crowd of 17,274 fans experienced a display of offensive prowess and late-game heroics from Indiana, who now sit at 5-5 on the season.
The Pacers leaned on performances from their young core, led by Bennedict Mathurin, who put up a game-high 38 points, including seven three-pointers.
Mathurin, paired with Tyrese Haliburton and his 35 points and 14 assists, kept the Knicks on their heels throughout the contest. Myles Turner added 26 points, including two pivotal three-pointers in the fourth quarter that helped Indiana pull away from New York, igniting the home crowd.
“I used what the defense gives me and shoot the ball with confidence,” Mathurin said after the win.
Related: Pacers defeat Magic
The game began with a close contest between the two squads, who matched each other nearly shot for shot in the first frame.
New York responded in the second quarter, as Jalen Brunson’s driving layups and Karl-Anthony Towns’ inside scoring gave the Knicks a slight advantage. Brunson finished with 33 points and 10 assists, while Towns poured on 30 points and nine rebounds.
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau spoke about his team’s woes following the loss.
“We have to do better,” Thibodeau said. “We have to be strong on both sides of the ball if we are going to just rely on offense, then we are not going to be a good team. We have to do better.”
Indiana entered the halftime break trailing 61-58, but the second half saw a determined response from the Pacers.
Related: Pacers gear up for 2024 NBA Cup
Turner and Mathurin knocked down clutch shots, combining for five three-pointers in the third stanza.
With the game still up for grabs in the final quarter, Turner’s back-to-back three-pointers proved crucial. Turner’s hot hand came as the Knicks were closing in, cutting the lead to just a few points. His consecutive shots from yond the arc electrified the crowd and widened the Pacers’ lead to 14.
Alongside Mathurin and Haliburton, who scored consistently from the field, the Pacers received valuable support from Pascal Siakam, who contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Pacers’ next game is against the Magic, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 13 in Orlando.
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral.
