Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks against Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard.
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Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks brings the ball up the court against Andrew Nembhard of the Indiana Pacers.
The New York Knicks could be facing another severely depleted opponent Tuesday night when they host the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.
Indiana arrives with one of the longest injury reports in the league and has already been eliminated from postseason contention, leaving the Pacers in evaluation mode for the remainder of the season.
But after barely escaping with a comeback victory over a short-handed Golden State Warriors squad Sunday, the Knicks understand that facing undermanned teams can still be dangerous.
Pacers Without Tyrese Haliburton
The most significant absence for Indiana remains All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who continues to recover from a torn Achilles that ended his season.
Haliburton had been the centerpiece of Indiana’s offense, orchestrating one of the NBA’s most dynamic attacks with his elite playmaking and scoring ability.
Without him, the Pacers have struggled to replicate the same offensive rhythm that pushed them to the NBA Finals last season.
The Pacers could also be without another major contributor.
Forward Pascal Siakam has been listed as doubtful with a right knee sprain, raising the possibility that Indiana could be missing its top scoring option when it faces New York.
Pacers Dealing With Long Injury List
Indiana’s injury problems extend well beyond its two stars.
Trade deadline acquisition Ivica Zubac is questionable with a left ankle sprain.
Guards T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard are also listed as questionable with hamstring and calf injuries, while forward Aaron Nesmith is dealing with an ankle injury management.
Former Knicks forward Obi Toppin is also questionable due to a right foot issue.
Second-year wing Johnny Furphy remains sidelined as he continues recovering from a season-ending ACL tear.
Additional players such as Quenton Jackson and Ben Sheppard are also listed as questionable, leaving Indiana potentially scrambling to fill out a full rotation.
With multiple rotation players uncertain to play, the Pacers may be forced to lean heavily on depth options and younger players.
Knicks Coming Off Grueling Comeback
New York enters the matchup after surviving a difficult game against Golden State.
The Knicks rallied from a 21-point deficit to defeat the Warriors 110–107 behind 30 points and nine assists from Jalen Brunson.
However, the victory also highlighted a concerning trend.
Despite facing a Warriors team missing several stars — including Stephen Curry — the Knicks struggled early and were forced to mount a major comeback.
The slow starts have become a growing issue.
According to Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News, the Knicks have been among the worst teams in the league in first quarters recently.
“The Knicks (29th) have been worse than the Washington Wizards in first quarters over their last 10 games,” Winfield wrote. “The starters have been outscored by 12.4 points per 100 possessions in that stretch.”
Knicks Also Monitoring Brunson
The Knicks could also be dealing with an injury concern of their own.
Brunson, who led the comeback against Golden State, has been listed as questionable with right ankle injury management.
If Brunson is limited or unavailable, players such as Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby may be asked to carry more of the offensive load.
Avoiding Another Trap Game
Even with the Pacers eliminated from playoff contention and dealing with numerous injuries, the Knicks know the matchup still carries risk.
Sunday’s game against the undermanned Warriors demonstrated how easily a slow start can turn into a difficult night.
For New York, the focus will be on establishing control early and avoiding another large deficit against a team that — despite its depleted roster — will still be eager to compete.
With the Eastern Conference playoff race tightening, the Knicks cannot afford to overlook any opponent.