One method to put an unsightly loss effectively into the rear-view mirror?
Exchange the reminiscence with a convincing victory within the subsequent sport.
The Knicks did simply that, bouncing again from Saturday’s 131-104 loss to the Boston Celtics with a 128-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday. It was the primary sport of a road-home back-to-back main into Wednesday’s matchup towards the Atlanta Hawks earlier than the weeklong NBA All-Star Break in San Francisco.
And it was a much-needed efficiency after the blowout loss to the Celtics forged doubt over New York’s place among the many league’s elite as professional title contenders this season.
The Knicks won’t be on par with the reigning champs, however Tuesday’s victory over the fourth-seeded Pacers proved New York isn’t in the identical league as different groups not named Boston or Cleveland within the Japanese Convention.
“We can’t just dwell on what just happened. Obviously, we lost,” Jalen Brunson stated after apply on the workforce’s Tarrytown coaching facility on Monday. “We got our asses kicked. How do we move forward from that? We can’t just sit here and feel sorry for ourselves.”
“They played very well,” added Josh Hart. “We didn’t play well, and they won. That simple.”
The Knicks had been in a position to put the Pacers away with out a signature efficiency from their two-time All-Star guard.
Jalen Brunson completed with simply 9 factors and 7 assists on 4-of-11 capturing from the sphere, however his journey buddy for All-Star Weekend picked up the slack.
Karl-Anthony Cities poured on 40 factors on 14-of-23 capturing from the sphere, three-of-eight capturing from downtown and an ideal nine-of-nine clip from the foul line to go together with his 12 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals on the night time. His efficiency was an entire 180 from the 9 factors and 9 rebounds he posted within the loss to the Celtics.
Cities wasn’t the one participant who had a bounce-back sport in Indiana, both: Josh Hart logged his highest-scoring sport of the season with 30 factors on 12-of-16 capturing from the sphere to go together with 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Hart and Cities mixed for 70 of the Knicks’ 128 factors in Indiana and shot 26-of-39 from the sphere, making two-thirds of their pictures on the night time.
Miles McBride, who shot 1-of-8 for eight factors in 35 minutes on Saturday, had 15 factors on 4-of-4 capturing from the sphere off the bench, and Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne mixed for an additional 20 factors on 9-of-17 capturing from the sphere.
Pascal Siakam led the way in which for the Pacers with 24 factors and 5 rebounds, and Benedict Mathurin chipped in 18 factors off the bench, however the Knicks held All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton to only 16 factors and eight assists on 2-of-6 capturing from downtown. Pacers middle Thomas Bryant additionally logged 18 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in his matchup towards Cities.
Regardless of the disappointing loss to the reigning champions, Tuesday’s victory over the Pacers marked the Knicks’ eighth win of their final 10 video games. They’ve an opportunity to make it 4 wins of their final 5 video games internet hosting Trae Younger and the Atlanta Hawks again at The Backyard on Wednesday.
