INDIANAPOLIS — Behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, the Knicks not only survived Jalen Brunson’s extended stay on the bench — they thrived.
Adversity hit early in the second half against the Pacers on Tuesday night, when Brunson picked up his fourth and fifth fouls in rapid succession.
The point guard was subbed out with a nine-point lead and about nine minutes remaining in the third. He returned with 5 ½ minutes remaining and the Knicks leading by 16.
In a 128-115 blowout victory, Brunson only needed eight points in 23 minutes.
So how did the Knicks build on their advantage in the Brunson-less minutes? A heavy dose of Hart, who dropped a season-high 30 points and was a one-man wrecking ball in transition and at the rim. They also got strong bench play from Miles McBride and Cam Payne.
Towns, meanwhile, owned the first half and finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
The Knicks (35-18) were coming off one of their more disheartening efforts of the season, a bludgeoning at the hands of the Celtics on Saturday that felt like an indictment on their status as contenders.
The Pacers (29-23) aren’t quite the Celtics, but it was a formidable test.
Not only were they streaking behind a rejuvenated Tyrese Haliburton, they were responsible for eliminating the Knicks in the conference semifinals last season.
And just like much of that series, OG Anunoby was unavailable Tuesday night because of an injury. Precious Achiuwa, as a result, again started at power forward and added nine points with 12 rebounds. McBride led the bench with 15 points, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
The Pacers didn’t have center Myles Turner, who was injured as well, but were otherwise healthier than the last matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in November — a game won by Indiana. In fact, the Knicks entered Tuesday on a five-game losing streak in Indiana — including three defeats in the playoffs.
It was a house of horrors for the Knicks in the conference finals, with a Mother’s Day Massacre defeat and the Andrew Nembhard miracle trey in Game 3.
But Tuesday, the Knicks were solid from tipoff.
The first half was a Towns masterpiece. In the second quarter, he jammed over Indiana’s Thomas Bryant and followed with a fake behind-the-back pass that utterly fooled Haliburton before feeding Hart in transition for the assist.
Towns had 24 points, four rebounds and three assists by halftime, with the Knicks enjoying a 68-60 advantage. That lead only got bigger when their best player, Brunson, went out with foul troubl
