Just days removed from a deflating season-opening loss, the New York Knicks came out with a vengeance in their home opener Friday night, routing the Indiana Pacers 123-98 in a game that was over by halftime. The convincing victory not only washed away the bitter taste of Tuesday’s defeat but also served as sweet revenge for last year’s playoff elimination at the hands of these same Pacers.
Offseason acquisition Karl-Anthony Towns, making his regular season debut at Madison Square Garden, gave the raucous home crowd plenty to cheer about. The New Jersey native poured in 21 points as one of four Knicks starters to top the 20-point mark. His frontcourt mate Mikal Bridges matched that total, while the backcourt tandem of Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart added 26 and 20 respectively.
Defensive Intensity Sets the Tone
But it was on the defensive end where the Knicks made their most profound statement. After surrendering an NBA-record-tying 29 three-pointers in their opener against Boston, New York clamped down on the perimeter against an Indiana squad that finished second in offensive efficiency a year ago. The Pacers connected on a paltry 3-of-30 from beyond the arc, with rising star Tyrese Haliburton going scoreless on eight attempts.
I just was bad, bro. It happens.
– Tyrese Haliburton on his scoreless outing
The Knicks’ wing defenders took turns hounding Haliburton, with Bridges, Hart, and OG Anunoby each spending time on the dynamic guard. Their aggressive ball pressure led to 14 Indiana turnovers, which the Knicks converted into 29 points in transition.
MSG Crowds Erupts for Towns, Yankees
While Towns’ first meaningful minutes at the Garden were met with a thunderous ovation, the decibel level reached even greater heights in the fourth quarter for a non-basketball reason. With the hometown Yankees battling the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series, a massive “Let’s Go Yankees!” chant broke out following a Giancarlo Stanton two-run homer that put the Bronx Bombers ahead.
Towns, an avid Yankees supporter, joined in the chant from the bench, enthusiastically waving his towel as the arena video board replayed Stanton’s blast. The game ended in disappointment for Towns and Yankees fans, however, as Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam lifted Los Angeles to victory.
Oh, I was looking up [at the jumbotron] for sure.
– Karl-Anthony Towns on watching the Yankees game from the bench
Revenge and Redemption
For the Knicks, though, Friday was all about redemption — not just from their lackluster opener, but for how last season ended on their home floor. It was these Pacers who stunned the Knicks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, prematurely ending what had been a promising campaign.
With that bitter memory still lingering, the Knicks came out determined to send an early message that this year will be different. And while one regular season victory hardly atones for a playoff defeat, it’s an encouraging sign that the roster retooling around Towns and Bridges could pay significant dividends.
Whenever you get your butt kicked on national TV in the NBA, it means you have to step it up.
– Josh Hart on the Knicks’ mentality after their season-opening loss
A New Era at MSG?
The additions of Towns, Bridges, and Hart, along with the continued emergence of Brunson as an elite floor general, give the Knicks a formidable core to build around. There’s a palpable buzz around this team that hasn’t been felt in the Garden for quite some time.
Friday night offered a tantalizing glimpse of what this group is capable of when firing on all cylinders. The ball movement was crisp, the defense suffocating, and the energy infectious. If the Knicks can bottle that formula on a consistent basis, they have the potential to be a force in the East.
Only time will tell if this early-season outburst was a sign of things to come or merely a momentary flash of brilliance. But for one electric evening at MSG, the Knicks gave their fans reason to dream big once again.
With a rejuvenated roster, a chip on their shoulder, and the unwavering support of one of the league’s most passionate fan bases, the Knicks appear poised to write a new chapter in their storied history. And if Friday’s performance is any indication, it could be a thrilling page-turner.
