The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Pacers Withstand Late Knicks Rally to Earn 106-104 Win
By Adrian Cole
Photo: Marta Sand / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Pascal Siakam scored 19 points and the Indiana Pacers held off a late rally by the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks to secure a 106-104 victory Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana had five players score in double figures, balancing its offense while playing without injured guard Tyrese Haliburton. Aaron Nesmith added 18 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 16, and Andrew Nembhard and Ivica Zubac finished with 12 apiece.
The Pacers built a 58-49 halftime lead and maintained their advantage through much of the second half. New York stayed within reach before Indiana delivered the game’s decisive stretch midway through the fourth quarter.
The Pacers went on a 10-0 run while holding the Knicks scoreless for more than three minutes. Nesmith punctuated the surge with a dunk that put Indiana ahead 102-89.
Siakam added a 15-foot jumper with 1:49 remaining to extend the lead to 106-98, giving the Pacers some breathing room as New York mounted its final push.
Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 33 points and 11 assists for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 23 points and 15 rebounds, extending a remarkable run to open the season. According to the New York Post, Towns’ 12th consecutive double-double to start the season broke a 56-year-old franchise record.
New York made the finish tense. Brunson drove for a layup with 26 seconds remaining to cut Indiana’s lead to 106-102. The Knicks had a final opportunity, but Towns’ fadeaway attempt missed at the buzzer, allowing the Pacers to escape with the two-point victory.
Indiana improved to 5-8 overall and 1-1 in NBA Cup East Group B. The win provided a lift for a team navigating Haliburton’s absence and moved it level in the group standings.
The Knicks dropped to 6-6 and 0-2 in Cup play, their second consecutive loss. Despite strong performances from Brunson and Towns, New York could not overcome Indiana’s fourth-quarter defensive stand.
Adrian Cole
NBA, The Library Media
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