© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Indianapolis, IN) – At the end of the first half, things looked bleak. But it turned out the Knicks had the Pacers exactly where they wanted them. Riding a 20-point explosion from Karl Anthony-Towns in the fourth quarter, New York erased what was at one point a 20-point deficit — cutting the series deficit to 2 games to 1.
With team captain Jalen Brunson in foul trouble for much of the second half, head coach Tom Thibodeau was forced to rely on his bench — and they delivered. Thibs opted to start Mitch Robinson, and sent Josh Hart to the bench. It was a wise move given how well Robinson has defended, and given the relative struggles of the Knicks starting unit. Although the returns weren’t immediately positive, New York’s bench proved up to the task late — helping spark the second half comeback.
Brunson re-entered the action late and hit a couple key shots. Both he and Hart made important free throws as well. But defense and grit defined the comeback for New York. And so did Karl Anthony-Towns or KAT. His ability to create his own shot has been widely documented as a vital aspect of New York’s attack. Outside Brunson, he’s the only player on the roster who has the ability to score consistently, minus the extra pass.
The Knicks and Pacers renew their hostilities on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
