Knicks Easily Handle Pacers on St. Patty’s Day. NY 136 Indiana 110

March 18, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
OG Anunoby had 26 pts on 10-13 shooting (4-5 from 3), 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

Only a few days after the Pacers played like wild hyenas to the buzzer in a last-second loss to the Knicks, NY beat Indiana easily on a Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, 136-110. St Patty’s Day.

Jalen Brunson was out for NY — but the Knicks simply turned to Jose Alvarado — who pushed the offense with 16 pts and 10 assists, and slotted Tyler Kolek in as the backup point — he had 5 assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

But the biggest star of the night was Josh Hart, who hit almost every shot he took — scoring 33 pts on 12-13 shooting (5-5 from 3).

OG Anunoby was red hot too — 26 pts on 10-13 shooting (4-5 from 3), Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 pts (on 9-21 shooting, 2-7 from 3), and Mikal Bridges finally hit some shots late as he tries to break out of a shooting slump — he had 10 pts on 4-12 shooting (2-6 from 3). Jordan Clarkson added 10 pts off the bench, and Mitchell Robinson was dominant at backup center — 8 pts on 4-5 shooting with 8 rebounds in 19 minutes.

Both teams started red-hot from 3 — the Knicks taking a lead in the 1st quarter but the Pacers coming back to take a small lead in the 2nd quarter as they were 11-16 from 3 to start the game. But the Knicks clamped down the D against the 3, while they remained hot from all over — and the game became an easy win.

Indiana is of course tanking the season — and in this game Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard were both out, besides of course Tyrese Haliburton who is out for the year. T.J. McConnell started at point for Indiana, and had 10 pts and 10 assists in 20 minutes.

Many Knick fans were switching back and forth between this game and the World Baseball Classic final — USA vs Venezuela, which Venezuela won, 3-2, a half hour after the Knick game ended.

“Leon said that Josh is a big candy guy,” said coach Mike Brown afterwards. “And this was Mike & Ike night. He carried a box in before we started our pre-game, he had a box in his hand. It was probably that.”

“Jose is one of the fastest guys in the league with the ball,” added Brown about Alvarado. “What he did really well is play off the dribble. He got down there, and even if he didn’t have anything, he’d just recall it — Nashing it — giving Steve Nash a lot of love — he kept his dribble; he Nashed and brought the ball out to the weak side and then he found somebody. His ability to play off of 2 feet when he gets into the paint — because he can get into the paint almost anytime he wants to if we’re spaced the right way — was a lot of fun to watch.”

NY improves to 45-25, a game back of Boston and 5 back of Detroit. Indiana falls to 15-54.

1. Knicks Jump on Top on OG’s 3’s

It was a close game early until OG Anunoby hit 3 consecutive 3’s midway thru the 1st quarter to give NY a 19-12 lead — forcing a Pacer timeout.

The Pacers came back with hot shooting by Obi Toppin, Jay Huff, Jarace Walker, and Aaron Nesmith. A Nesmith 3 cut the Knick lead to 2 pts just before the end of the period — but an OG drive with a second left put NY up 38-34 after 1.

Another OG 3 to start the 2nd increased NY’s lead to 7 pts.

2. Pacers 11-16 from 3 to Start — Take Lead in 2nd

But Indiana came right back with 3-pt shooting: Jalen Slawson, Kobe Brown, and Jarace Walker hit 3’s, while Ivaca Zubac was scoring inside and Indiana took a 6-pt lead at 57-51.

3. Alvarado Ups NY Tempo: Knicks Go Up by 8 at the Half

But Jose Alvarado increased the Knick tempo — scoring 4 consecutive points on drives, and then Josh Hart stuck a 3, Bridges hit a deuce, Hart scored on free throws, and Alvarado stole the ball then hit a 3 down the other end and the Knicks were back in business with a 66-62 lead.

“Whether his shot is falling or not which it was tonight, Jose Alvarado gives u the same effort, activity and toughness,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “He still guards hard the entire possession, creates for others, gets 50/50 balls and brings his hardhat. Making or missing shots never changes or dictates his effort.”

Josh Hart hit consecutive 3’s just before the half and NY took a 72-64 lead into intermission.

4. Red-Hot Hart, KAT, & OG Push Knick Lead to 17 in 3rd

Josh Hart hit ANOTHER 3 to start the 3rd quarter, and then Karl-Anthony Towns started to dominate — scoring inside and then outside with consecutive 3’s for an 83-71 Knick lead.

OG and Josh Hart continued RED HOT, hitting deuces and drives inside, and a Jose Alvarado 3 pushed NY’s lead to 17 pts at 94-77 with 7 minutes left in the 3rd.

Indiana cut into the lead on buckets by Jay Huff, Ben Sheppard, and Obi Toppin (a 3 and a drive) — pulling within 10 pts with 3 minutes left.

But NY pushed back on scoring by Josh Hart, Jordan Clarkson, and OG to pull back out to a 16-pt lead.

NY led 105-91 heading into the 4th.

5. Knicks Cruise in 4th

Jordan Clarkson — a walking bucket when he is on his game, which he has been lately — got buckets to start the 4th, along with KAT and OG.

Mitchell Robinson grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Clarkson for a floater and a 113-96 lead with 8:40 left.

Next time down, Tyler Kolek — in at point — fed Mitchell Robinson for a slam and NY was up by 19.

Robinson scored inside next time down, Mikal Bridges joined the fun with a 3, Clarkson hit a deuce, and Robinson dunked off a Clarkson assist for 9 straight Knick points and a 124-98 lead with 5 minutes left and it was good night Indiana.

The Boxscore

Knicks 136-110 Pacers (Mar 17, 2026) Box Score – ESPN

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