The old adage that basketball is game of runs was never truer than tonight. Unfortunately for the Pacers, the final run was made by their opponents, dooming them to a 138-129 loss to the New York Knicks.

The first round went to the Knicks, who sprinted out to a 21-7 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Without star players Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, and RJ Barrett, the Knicks' onslaught was led by Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, and Immanuel Quickley.

The momentum turned when TJ McConnell and the Pacers second unit entered the game. McConnell, who's playing his way into cult hero status, finished the game with 18 points and 12 assists. Rick Carlisle praised the veteran, saying "[he's] run out of adjectives to describe [TJ's] competitive excellence."

Although neither team played much defense, the Pacers won the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 70-67. After the break, the Pacers managed to regain the lead, albeit temporarily. The Knicks used an 8-0 run late in the third quarter to push their lead to 105-91 but the Pacers quickly responded with a 7-0 run of their own.

The game was back and forth for most of the fourth, until Toppin, a long rumored trade target for the Pacers, broke the tie at 120 with two thunderous slams. Quentin Grimes added a 3 and the Knicks never looked back.  

The Knicks had a number of players with gaudy stat lines, including three players with 30+ points. Quickley finished with 39, Grimes with 36, and Toppin with 32. Mitchell Robinson, whose performance helped the Knicks secure a 52-37 rebounding advantage, tallied a 14 point, 16 rebound double-double.

For the Pacers, the top scorer was starting center Jalen Smith, who recorded 19 points and three blocks. Rookie Bennedict Mathurin contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, but his six turnovers and reluctance to shoot the open three put a damper on his night. Fellow rookie Andrew Nembhard was one dime short of a double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine assists.

The Pacers and Knicks will face off again in the final game of the season this Sunday.

Highlights

Postgame Interviews

Standings Watch

Orlando

Upcoming games: Cleveland, @Brooklyn, @Miami

All three opponents are playoff teams but the Magic aren't shamelessly tanking like some others. If anyone jockeying for lottery balls is going to win an upset game this week, my money would be on the Magic.

Washington

Upcoming games: Miami, Houston

Johnny Davis led the team in minutes tonight. Second was Jay Huff. Don't expect them to win another game, which of course will be doubly painful when it means a Houston win.

Portland

Upcoming games: @San Antonio, @Clippers, Golden State

The bright side is either Portland or San Antonio has to win one more game.

San Antonio

Upcoming games: Portland, Minnesota, @Dallas

Minny and Dallas are competing for play-in spots. It would be catastrophic for either of them to drop a game to the Spurs. But I'm sure there are a few Colts fans reading this who remember Week 17 in Jacksonville two years ago. Catastrophes happen.  

Houston

Upcoming games: @Charlotte, @Washington

You never know what to expect with Houston. Let's hope they at least lose one.

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