Pacers use 3-point parade to drag away from Knicks

Bennedict Mathurin scored a career-high 38 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 12 of his season-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and the host Indiana Pacers rode a late 3-point shooting barrage to a 132-121 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday in Indianapolis.

The Pacers overcame a 10-point third-quarter deficit and outscored the Knicks 40-27 over the final 12 minutes, during which Indiana shot 63.6 percent (14-of-22), including 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from 3-point range.

Mathurin, who had 11 points in the fourth quarter, hit 7 of 9 3-pointers and broke his previous career-high of 34 points, set most recently against the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 26. Haliburton added a game-high 14 assists for his fifth double-double of the season.

Myles Turner scored 26 points and Pascal Siakam added 14 points for Indiana, which has won three of its last four games.

Jalen Brunson (33 points, 10 assists) and Josh Hart (16 points, 10 rebounds) both posted double-doubles for the Knicks, who have dropped three of their last four. Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and nine rebounds while OG Anunoby scored 25 points.

The Knicks led by as many as seven in the second quarter on their way to taking a 61-58 halftime lead before an eventful third quarter.

Indiana scored seven of the first 11 points and tied the score at 65-65 on Turner’s 3-pointer with 9:52 left. Hart converted a 3-point play to begin a 10-0 run for the Knicks, but the Pacers answered with an 18-6 spurt to take the lead at 83-81 following the second of two straight 3-pointers by Jarace Walker with 4:04 remaining.

The Knicks scored the next six points to regain the lead and entered the fourth quarter ahead 94-92.

T.J. McConnell opened the fourth with a game-tying layup before Siakam’s 3-pointer with 10:15 left put the Pacers ahead for good. Brunson’s turnaround jumper brought New York within 97-96, but Mathurin responded with a step-back triple for a four-point cushion.

The Knicks got as close as two points twice more, the last at 105-103 on a Towns 3-point play with 7:11 remaining. Indiana ended the game on a 27-18 run, hitting six 3-pointers over the final 5:24.

The Pacers finished 21-of-46 (45.7 percent) from distance, while New York shot just 7-of-25 (28 percent) from 3-point range.

–Field Level Media