Karl-Anthony Towns made up for a poor offensive showing in the previous game when he was throttled inside by the Celtics, by taking it to the rim over and over and over again — scoring 40 points to lead the Knicks over the Pacers on a Tuesday night in Indiana.
The Pacers were without Myles Turner and KAT took advantage against the smaller Indiana front line. At one point early in the 3rd quarter he was 10-13 from the floor, and finished 14-23 (3-8 from 3; 9-9 in free throws) with 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Meanwhile Josh Hart filled up the boxscore for a season-high 30 points on 12-16 shooting (1-3 from 3) with 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals — on a night when Jalen Brunson only played 23 minutes (scoring 8 pts) due to early foul trouble.
Also outstanding for NY was Cameron Payne (9 pts, 8 assists), who played 24 minutes due to Brunson picking up his 5th foul early in the 3rd quarter. Miles McBride added 15 pts (on 4-7 shooting; 4-4 from 3) for a team high +25. Payne and McBride did a JOB on T.J McConnell, who normally kills the Knicks but had a -11 on this night. Tyrese Haliburton was also limited to 16 pts and a -11.
NY pulled out to a 10-pt lead in the 2nd quarter, led by 8 at the half, and by 10 entering the 4th quarter. NY then pushed the lead to 18 points in the 4th — Indiana never got close.
“With Jalen bring in foul trouble, I thought our bench came in and gave us a big lift,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “I loved the way Cam, and Deuce (McBride), and Landry (Shamet) played. KAT had a monster game. An then of course what Josh did — it was what we needed to win. He was everywhere, flying around, doing everything. Good team win. Good bounce back. But they keep coming; got to be ready for Atlanta tomorrow.”
“Precious gave us good minutes throughout,” continued Thibs. “Mikal — his defense — Haliburton is a tough cover; (T.J.) McConnell is a tough cover; (Pascal) Siakam, tough cover; (Bennedict) Mathurin, tough cover. That team is an outstanding offensive team; they can put up points on the board and make up ground quickly; no lead feels safe. And I loved the way we shared the ball.”
NY improves to 35-18; Indiana — which has been playing great ball at 13-7 in their last 20 coming in — falls to 29-23.
1. Knicks Come Out with Fire; KAT to the Rim
The Knicks came out with aggression, looking to make amends for the HORRID Blowout loss to the Celtics on Saturday night. Karl-Anthony Towns, who was throttled inside vs Boston, took it to the rim over and over and over again. KAT missed a 3 to start the game, but then connected on 4 drives to the hoop in the 1st quarter.
NY pulled out to a 9-4 lead, but Indiana came right back with a 3 from Haliburton, and scores inside by Obi Toppin and Pascal Siakam to take a 16-13 lead. A 3 by Bennedict Mathurin and step-back jumper by Andrew Nembhard gave Indiana a 24-17 lead — and it looked like it would be a long night for NY.
But Deuce McBride entered the game and immediately made a difference, feeding Precious Achiuwa for a drive and then hitting a 3 to pull NY within 2. A KAT drive-and-1 at the end of the quarter gave NY a 1-pt lead.
KAT and-1 to finish the quarter 💪 pic.twitter.com/PaK5Ublkmi
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 12, 2025
2. McBride, Payne, & KAT Lead NY to 10-Pt Lead in 2nd
McBride continued to be a difference maker at the start of the 2nd quarter, and then Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet joined in. McBride hit another 3, Cameron Payne hit a floater, Shamet fed KAT for a drive-and-1, and KAT hit a 3 and the Knicks were on an 11-2 run for a 38-34 lead.
Deep 3. 🎯
And-1 take. 💪KAT up to 15 in the 1st half on TNT! pic.twitter.com/Q0945fKC2R
— NBA (@NBA) February 12, 2025
KAT continued to drive to the bucket — he was 9-12 from the floor in the 1st half.
more TOUGH buckets from @karltowns 😤 pic.twitter.com/vmpUH87hCk
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2025
As NBA Analyst Ross Kreines described: “Good job by Karl-Anthony Towns here with good use of his pivot foot, turn and face, not settling for his jumper, no wasted dribbles then good use of his upper body strength to not only create space but also contact and then finish through contact.”
KAT RACK ATTACK pic.twitter.com/fbOzKqRclr
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 12, 2025
McBride continued to hit 3’s — including 3 free throws after being fouled taking a 3.
NY pushed the lead to 10, and led by 8 at the half.
3. Brunson 5th Foul Early in 3rd
Brunson picked up his 3rd foul in the 2nd quarter, and then, after hitting a jumper near the beginning of the 3rd, picked up a 4th foul.
A minute later he was throttled by 2 Pacers on a drive to the basket — it looked like he got fouled — but instead HE was called for a foul as he came down, even though on replay it looked like he barely brushed Andrew Nembhard covering him.
But Brunson was to the bench with 5 fouls and 8:42 left in the 3rd — NY up 72-62.
4. Hart Refuses to Let Indiana Get Closer than 5 in 3rd
With Brunson gone, Josh Hart seemed to up his game — scoring repeatedly on buckets or tip-ins inside, fed by Cam Payne or Mikal Bridges.
KAT with the perfect pass to Josh Hart! pic.twitter.com/Ttw7NyzeDj
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 12, 2025
“Josh Hart will flat-out beat you in many ways by outworking you in all aspects,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines, “Whether that’s on the backboards, turning all 50/50 balls into 20/80 balls also finds the open man, defends hard while creating his own opportunities on the other end and needing no plays called for him.”
Bridges was having a very quiet night offensively — he was only 1-2 from the floor in the 1st half — then hit a pullup and a dunk late in the 3rd. He did not play the 4th quarter.
Indiana made a run — pulling to within 4 points with 2:30 left in the 3rd — on buckets by Haliburton, Toppin, and a drive-and-1 by Thomas Bryant.
But Josh Hart and then Mikal Bridges, and then KAT, and then Josh Hart again — had answers.
KAT’s still on a heater in the second half 😤
Knicks-Pacers is LIVE on TNT! pic.twitter.com/abd67otuwI
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 12, 2025
A Cam Payne floater gave NY a 9-pt lead, and a Precious Achiuwa free throw made it a 10-pt lead entering the 5th.
5. Knicks By 10 Entering 4th — Push It to 18-Pt Lead
Achiuwa fed Landry Shamet for a slick back-door play to start the 4th and the Knicks were off to the races.
Josh Hart was everywhere — and getting to the basket for scores or free throws. KAT continued to attack the rim. Shamet and Payne were attacking. When KAT hit a step-back 3 with 3:45 left NY had an 18-pt lead and ballgame.
KAT keeps it rolling pic.twitter.com/asBsMC89Sm
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) February 12, 2025
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