Knicks 87, Pacers 81: Scenes from a slushy slugfest

On a night of crappy weather, lackluster tax return reveals, and an unfortunate injury to Kristaps Porzingis (thigh contusion suffered at the beginning of the fourth quarter), the Knicks turned to a most unusual strategy: defense. And it worked! New York held the Pacers to 29 points in the second half en route to an 87-81 victory.

Carmelo Anthony couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half — 1-8 from the field to start — but caught fire down the stretch.

Given that this was a defensive struggle, it makes sense that Kristaps Porzingis’s best highlights came via the blocked shot.

GET THAT WEAK SHIT OUT OF HERE, PAUL GEORGE!

Kristaps got one of his few buckets via a sweet dish from Ron Baker.

Ron came up big in the fourth, harassing whichever poor Pacer ball handler happened to cross his path. But the real hero might have been Willy Hernangomez, who battled Myles Turner to a standstill late while dropping 13 points and 16 rebounds and 3 steals.

Recap to come.