Pacers pull away vs. undermanned Knicks
Feb 10, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball while being defended by New York Knicks guard Alec Burks (18) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. credits: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports Tyrese Haliburton posted another double-double with 22 points and 12 assists Saturday night for the visiting Indiana Pacers, who pulled away in the second half to beat the undermanned New York Knicks 125-111.
The double-double was the 29th of the season for Haliburton, who bounced back from scoring just five points — his fewest since Dec. 12, 2022 — in Thursday's 131-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Myles Turner scored a team-high 23 points for the Pacers, who have won three of four. Pascal Siakam had 19 points while T.J. McConnell added 16 points off the bench. Aaron Nesmith (13 points) and reserve Isaiah Jackson (12 points) also scored in double figures.
Doug McDermott, whom the Pacers acquired in a three-team trade Thursday, was scoreless in seven-plus minutes.
Jalen Brunson returned from a one-game absence due to a sprained right ankle and scored 39 points for the Knicks, who have lost three of four after a nine-game winning streak.
New York is without All-Star forward Julius Randle (separated shoulder), OG Anunoby (right elbow surgery) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle surgery) indefinitely while Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) and Jericho Sims (illness) are each day-to-day.
Alec Burks, who was acquired from the Detroit Pistons along with Bojan Bogdanovic on Thursday, scored 22 points off the bench. Precious Achiuwa had 15 points and Donte DiVincenzo collected 14 points while Bogdanovic added 11 points.
Neither team led by more than five points in the first half. The Pacers began taking control when Nesmith's 3-pointer with 3:25 left gave them the lead for good at 53-51 and began an 11-7 run that gave Indiana a 61-58 halftime lead.
Siakam hit consecutive 3-pointers and finished with seven points in the third, when the Pacers ended the quarter with a 91-82 lead on Haliburton's 30-footer at the buzzer.
Obi Toppin opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to give the Pacers their first double-digit lead. The advantage never slipped below 10 points again for Indiana, which opened its biggest lead at 114-92 on Jackson's three-point play with 5:40 remaining.
—Field Level Media