NBA Playoffs Final Score: New York Knicks open series with 121-117 win over the Indiana Pacers

Knicks strike first in what is sure to be a back and forth series

The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers went toe to toe for 48 hard minutes to kick off their 2nd Round match-up, with neither team really able to take control throughout the course of the evening. Led by their Villanova trio, the Knicks played catch-up for much of the 2nd half before coming up with a few timely buckets and stops in the waning moments of the 4th quarter to seal an important Game 1 victory at home in front of the New York faithful. Though the Knicks took care of business at the Garden tonight, they have a lot to clean-up if they want to win this series against a deep Indiana team that can score points in a hurry.

Observations

• Jalen Brunson continues to be spectacular in these playoffs. He became just the 4th player in NBA history to record at least four straight 40 point games in the playoffs, joining Jerry West, Michael Jordan, and fellow Knick Bernard King. Brunson completely took over in the 4th, scoring 21 of his 43 in the frame, more than half of the Knicks’ 39 in the quarter.

• Josh Hart truly is the quintessential do-everything player. Hart finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. His drive game was on display all night, pushing the ball hard in transition and attacking close outs against a Pacer defense that is soft in the paint and opts to stay home on shooters. Hart played all 48 tonight, bringing the tough-nosed defense and all-around game until the final buzzer. His 5 turnovers were the only blight on an otherwise spectacular night.
• Isaiah Hartenstein hit a ridiculous halfcourt heave to end the first half that cut into what would have been an 8-point halftime lead for Indiana.

• The third member of the Villanova trio, Donte DiVincenzo, had 21 of his 25 points in the second half, including the 3 that gave New York the lead for good. After struggling with his shot for much of the first round, DiVincenzo now has back to back games of at least 20 points.
• Indiana’s offense is a lot of fun to watch, with shooting, length, and athleticism in both their starting and bench lineups. Their bench outscored the Knicks’ reserves 46-3, with Rick Carlisle definitely more willing to play deeper into his bench than Tom Thibodeau infamously does, so this is likely an area that Indiana will continue to have an advantage.
• As potent as the offense is, the Indiana defense in this one really stood out for stretches. Indiana put a ton of pressure on the ball throughout the night, even breaking out the full court press on occasion. They can be had at the rim though, as guys like DiVincenzo and Hart showed numerous times.
• Tyrese Haliburton finished with just 6 shot attempts in this one, looking content to swing the ball whenever it found him. Indiana does a great job at getting production all across the roster, but a more aggressive Haliburton likely wouldn’t upset Carlisle.
• Former Knick Obi Toppin finished with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Among his 5 baskets was this ridiculous between the legs slam that silenced the New York faithful for the moment:

• Myles Turner was able to get almost any shot he wanted out of the pick and roll. He had a huge 3rd, capping it off by matching Hartenstein’s halfcourt heave at the buzzer with a buzzer-beating 3 to end the quarter. The Knicks need to figure out how they’re going to cover the Haliburton-Turner and fast.
• Mitchell Robinson is still hampered by the ankle injury he suffered in the first round against Philadelphia. He looked to be in some clear discomfort numerous times during dead balls tonight and he still isn’t moving all that great.

I need to know the over/under on how many times the old Knicks-Pacers series of the 90s will be mentioned in each game this round. If it was a drinking game, I think everyone would have been wasted by the end of the 1st. Those references will be taken to a new level for Game 2 Wednesday night when infamous Knick villain Reggie Miller joins the TNT crew. With a bunch of the old Knicks showing up for these games, it should be an interesting dynamic.