Pacers final score: Pacers hold off Knicks 103-98

The oasis game in the Indiana Pacers’ desert schedule ended with a much needed win, but there remained a growing number of concerns after allowing the New York Knicks to climb back into and hang around into the final minute of the game.

This was a lingering issue for the Pacers during the best stretches of the game, making the worst stretches a real adventure. While it seemed part of Indiana’s second half collapse to Philadelphia had some elements of bad luck, tonight’s continued struggle to hit open looks didn’t do much to help the hope of it being an aberration.

Indiana’s inability to capitalize on the game was evident early, when trailing 20-19, they failed to score from the field for…