The Knicks’ bench doesn’t look so bad when it’s actually producing.
Tuesday’s victory over the Indiana Pacers wasn’t just about Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart combining for 70 points and 20 rebounds against the team that ended New York’s playoff run last season.
It was also about a second unit that, for once, held its own against a Pacers team known for stretching its rotation 11 players deep.
Towns delivered a 40-point masterpiece, and Hart added 30 with his signature high-energy play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But timely performances from a Knicks bench that ranks dead last in the NBA in scoring proved to be the difference in New York’s eighth win in its last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
Against the fast-paced Pacers, Miles McBride provided a spark with 15 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from deep. Landry Shamet chipped in 11, while veteran guard Cameron Payne logged nine points and eight assists—an especially crucial contribution with Jalen Brunson limited by foul trouble.
“Yeah, those guys played well,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said before tipoff at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. “We needed it, obviously, with the foul trouble Jalen [Brunson] and KAT were in. I thought those guys went in and gave us a big lift. I like the way they play. They shared the ball, created advantages, made the right reads, played fast. It was very productive.”
Precious Achiuwa also made an impact in another start for OG Anunoby, who missed Wednesday’s game against the Hawks with a right foot sprain. Achiuwa finished with nine points and 12 rebounds in Tuesday’s win.
“Just the versatility,” Thibodeau said. “Obviously, being short-handed, his ability to play the 4 and the 5 is a big plus. The offensive rebounding, the athleticism, and the ability to switch—particularly when you have Josh, OG, and Mikal out there as well.”
With teams shifting toward deeper rotations over star-heavy lineups, depth is becoming more valuable than ever.
The Knicks are feeling that reality firsthand. Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) remain out, while Towns continues to battle thumb and knee injuries heading into the All-Star break. With heavy minutes on the starters already a concern, the Knicks need their second unit to show up — and show up consistently.
“It’s sort of become the nature of our league. You’ve got guys that are in and out. You have to be ready for everybody,” Thibodeau said. “That’s why you do a lot of preparation in the offseason — just to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each team. Because if someone’s out — or if there’s a trade that changes the makeup — you’ve got to be able to adjust.”
The Knicks’ bench finally stepped up on Tuesday.
Now, the challenge is making it a habit.
So far, consistency has eluded them. New York’s reserves average just 21.7 points per game, the lowest mark in the NBA by a three-and-a-half-point margin.
Tuesday’s effort was a step in the right direction. But if the Knicks want to keep pace in the East, their second unit needs to deliver far more often.