What happened: Karl-Anthony Towns posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for New York. Brunson distributed 9 assists to pace the offense down the stretch.

Why it matters: The Knicks entered the road matchup seeking to rebound from a recent loss to Cleveland. Maintaining position in the Eastern Conference standings remains critical as New York manages its early regular-season schedule.

What to watch: New York will look to mount a late rally in Indiana to erase the deficit before time expires.