Jalen Brunson scored 34 points (15 in the first quarter), and the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 119-113.
The Knicks never trailed and led by as many as 25.
The Pacers got within 105-103 on Buddy Hield’s pull-up 3-pointer with 3:10 to play, but Brunson answered with a driving layup, and the Pacers got no closer than 112-109.
During clutch time, the Knicks outscored the Pacers 14-4. Brunson (No. 4 in clutch points, 2022-23) scored 7 of the Knicks’ 14 on 3 for 5 shooting.
RJ Barrett had 27 points and 8 rebounds, and Mitchell Robinson added 10 points (6 in the paint), 9 rebounds and a career-high 5 steals.
For the Pacers, Hield had a season-high 31 points and 8 rebounds, and Bennedict Mathurin added 20 points off the bench.
The Knicks went 28 for 33 at the line to the Pacers’ 15 for 21. The Pacers outscored the Knicks 49-16 off the bench. The Pacers’ starters were outscored 27-15 in 8 minutes together.