On Friday night, the New York Knicks (1-1) bounced back in spectacular fashion, trouncing the Indiana Pacers 123-98 before an electric Madison Square Garden crowd. After a roll-over-and-get-kicked-29-times season opener against the Celtics, the Knicks came roaring back—especially their biggest KAT. Here are five takeaways from the emphatic victory.
Lockdown Defense was Back—and Better than Last Year
If defense wins championships, the Knicks just sent a loud message to the league. Shaking off their defensive debacle against Boston, in which they allowed a record-tying 29 triples, New York clamped down hard on the Pacers’ shooters.