Brunson, Barrett help Knicks hold off Pacers, 119-113
NEW YORK (AP) – Jaylen Brunson scored 34 points to help the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 119-113 on Wednesday night.
RJ Barrett added 27 points in his return from a finger injury that sidelined him for six games, and Julius Randle had 14 points and 16 rebounds.
“I was trying to be aggressive,” Barrett said. “I’ve been working, not just sitting around. I just wanted to find some kind of rhythm. I like to give it my all and live with the results.”
Buddy Hield led Indiana with 31 points.
After New York led by 25 points in the third quarter, Hield cut it to 105-103 with a 3-pointer with 3:10 left. Brunson countered the Knicks, scoring the game’s next seven points.
“I think we stayed poised and finished the game,” Brunson said. “Obviously we want to keep the lead and win comfortably, but this team wasn’t going to give up. I have to give them a lot of credit. For us, we have to continue to keep opportunities better. Keep your foot on the gas with lead. This is a work in progress for us. But a win is a win.”
Hield’s four-point play with 1:22 left put the Pacers up 112-109. He had a chance to tie it on Indiana’s next possession, but his 3-pointer went wide.
Quentin Grimes’ 3-pointer with 25 seconds left sealed it for the Knicks.
“Once he called my number, I knew I had to be ready,” Grimes said. “And if the pass came my way, I had to knock it down, and that’s what happened tonight.”
Grimes finished with 18 points, Immanuel Quickley with 11 and Mitchell Robinson with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points for Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton, who left with a sore knee late in the third quarter and did not return, had 15.
“Our guys showed great competitive spirit and made an incredible run to close it out, I think,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “As a coaching staff, we are very proud of our effort in the second half, especially in the absence of many of our best players.”
ADVICES:
Pacers: Indiana set a franchise record by hitting at least 10 3-pointers in its 19th straight game. … Carlisle coached Brunson in Dallas for three seasons (2018-21).
Knicks: New York is 11-11 at Madison Square Garden this season. It is the only team in the NBA with a winning record, but without a home mark above .500. … Randle is the only Knick to start all 42 games.
UNTIL NEXT TIME:
Pacers: Host Atlanta Friday night.
Knicks: At Washington Friday night.
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