Pacers vs. Knicks: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The Indiana Pacers (14-23) play against the New York Knicks (20-20) at Madison Square Garden Game Time: 7:30 PM EST on Tuesday January 4, 2022 Indiana Pacers 18, New York Knicks 26 (Q1 03:03) What’s the buzz on Twitter? Tim Bontemps @ TimBontemps …

The Indiana Pacers (14-23) play against the New York Knicks (20-20) at Madison Square Garden

Game Time: 7:30 PM EST on Tuesday January 4, 2022

Indiana Pacers 18, New York Knicks 26 (Q1 03:03)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Through eight-plus minutes here in New York, it’s Indiana 18, RJ Barrett 17. Barrett has started the game 6-for-6, and has staked New York to an early lead. – 8:00 PM
Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @ForbesSports
Jay Wright Says Ryan Arcidiacono Will Be ‘Tough-Minded, Skilled’ Addition For Knicks via @forbes forbes.com/sites/adamzago…
@NovaMBB
@Ryan Arcidiacono
@VUCoachJWright – 7:59 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
“Ohhh there’s the RJ Barrett I remember from last season” – Knicks fans pic.twitter.com/ur5h1fHD2F7:59 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers yielding another sizable run: 16 straight from the Knicks, who’ve went from down 8 to up 8.
Carlisle uses a timeout. Before that, Sabonis was coaching up the guys – presumably about their defensive pressure. – 7:58 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
RJ Barrett has 17 points in the first 8 minutes against Indiana tonight. He’s hit his first six shots (two 3-point attempts). – 7:58 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
How the basket looks to RJ Barrett right now pic.twitter.com/UTrKRsyDJZ7:57 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
Knicks on 16-0 run after that Julius Randle layup. Heads up play by Taj Gibson to tip it to him on the rebound. #Pacers call timeout trailing 26-18. – 7:57 PM
Tony East @TEastNBA
17 already for RJ. Wow. Incredible start for Barrett to put the Knicks up 6. – 7:56 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Knicks up 26-18 – on a 16-0 run. – 7:56 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
RJ Barrett is going OFF. 17 points so far in the first quarter. Knicks lead the #Pacers 24-18. – 7:56 PM
New York Knicks @nyknicks
ROWAN ALEXANDER BARRETT JR. – 7:56 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
RJ Barrett on fire to start this thing. 6-for-6 from the field right now with 16 points, and we still have 4 minutes to go in the first quarter. – 7:55 PM
New York Knicks @nyknicks
Defense makes a play, Julius makes ’em pay. pic.twitter.com/1tjFosurcW7:54 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
Keifer Sykes has 12 points in the NBA coming into tonight. He’s got 9 in the first 6 minutes here tonight against the Knicks. – 7:51 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Ah okay so someone named Keifer Sykes is the guy that will have an insane career-high vs the Knicks tonight at the Garden – 7:50 PM
Indiana Pacers @Pacers
a @Keifer Sykes triple gets us going at MSG!
watch now on @BallySportsIN or stream at https://t.co/rH7uOjRR6n… 📺 pic.twitter.com/uXsOZS4wIi7:50 PM

James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
Sykes with another 3! What a start for the #Pacers rookie. – 7:49 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Don’t know if this is why Taj Gibson is starting over Mitchell Robinson tonight, but I actually think Gibson is a better-fitted defender to guard Myles Turner. Mitch is best staying inside the 3-point arc. Gibson gives a bit more of a mix being able to close out on pick-and-pops. – 7:49 PM
New York Knicks @nyknicks
RJ staying aggressive early.
The first 7 Knicks points belong to him. pic.twitter.com/hsKhonYdky7:48 PM

Tony East @TEastNBA
Keifer Sykes with 6 points and an assist in 95 seconds to start the game. Big time from the rookie in his 4th ever game. – 7:45 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Here’s a story about a 36-year-old Australian hooper who didn’t prioritize the NBA and will never play there. All he wants is courtside seats at MSG next to Seinfeld.
He also happens to be the newest Knicks acquisition and Leon Rose’s former client. theathletic.com/3050525/2022/0…7:45 PM
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
This has not been a good start for Julius Randle – 7:45 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Not a great start for Randle. – 7:44 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
Keifer Sykes with a 3 to get on the #Pacers on the board and then drops off pass to Domantas Sabonis for a layup. Then Sykes makes another 3. Great start for him! – 7:44 PM
Alan Hahn @alanhahn
RJ Barrett may have struggled from 3 over the last 4 games, but he’s been strong going to the basket. 20 of his 56 shots came in the Restricted Area. Shooting 70% there. #Knicks7:43 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Not shocked to see Alec Burks starting at point guard after he started the second half in Toronto on Sunday. Today’s starting lineup, though, has not played much together this season. This will be only the third game Thibs has played these five guys together. – 7:40 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Incredible moment for Keifer Sykes. A week ago, he signed his first NBA contract. Sunday, he started in his first NBA game.
And tonight, the 28-year-old guard is introduced in the starting lineup at Madison Square Garden. – 7:39 PM
Indiana Pacers @Pacers
GAMETIME! Pacers fam it’s time to lock in.👏 pic.twitter.com/JDQ4AsiKkR7:37 PM

James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
#Knicks starters against the #Pacers:
— Alec Burks
— Evan Fournier
— RJ Barrett
— Julius Randle (back from health and safety protocols)
— Taj Gibson – 7:29 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
#Pacers starters against the #Knicks:
— Keifer Sykes
— Duane Washington Jr.
— Justin Holiday
— Domantas Sabonis
— Myles Turner – 7:27 PM
Indiana Pacers @Pacers
first five out.
@MotorolaUS | #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/WiGhEtvYK97:08 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
Randle is starting tonight along with Burks, Fournier, Barrett and Gibson. – 7:06 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Taj Gibson starting for NYK tonight, team says. – 7:06 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Knicks starters:
Alec Burks
Evan Fournier
RJ Barrett
Julius Randle
Taj Gibson – 7:05 PM
Mike Mazzeo @MazzNYC
Counting Down The Minutes: Could New York Online Sports Betting Launch By Next Week? “They’re getting close,” was how one source put it this evening @VisitPlayNY playny.com/online-sports-…7:04 PM
Indiana Pacers @Pacers
Injury Report for tonight’s game in New York:
Caris LeVert, Goga Bitadze, T.J. Warren, Kelan Martin, Chris Duarte, Isaiah Jackson – Out (health & safety protocols)
Jeremy Lamb, Malcolm Brogdon – Out (return to competition reconditioning)
T.J. McConnell – Out (right wrist) pic.twitter.com/ve5RNS2wmy6:49 PM

New York Knicks @nyknicks
3️⃣0️⃣ in the building. pic.twitter.com/aOUAo4ut2X6:45 PM

Ian Begley @IanBegley
Knicks say Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson & Jericho Sims are available tonight vs IND. Nerlens Noel (return to play reconditioning) is out. – 6:32 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Knicks announce that Randle, Robinson and Sims are available – and Noel remains out.i – 6:28 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Julius Randle is available tonight against the Pacers, Knicks say. – 6:27 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
The Knicks say Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims are available tonight against Indiana. Nerlens Noel (return to play reconditioning) is out. – 6:27 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Knicks announce Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims are all available. Nerlens Noel (return to play reconditioning) is out for tonight’s game against Indiana. – 6:27 PM
New York Knicks PR @NY_KnicksPR
Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims are available. Nerlens Noel (return to play reconditioning) is out for tonight’s game against Indiana. – 6:26 PM
New York Knicks @nyknicks
First fits of 2022 at the crib 📸 pic.twitter.com/Spvba4DS6F6:25 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb have cleared protocols, but it’s unlikely for them to play tomorrow night against the Nets.
Assistant coach Lloyd Pierce remains in the protocols, along with six other players. – 6:13 PM
Tony East @TEastNBA
Malcolm Brogdon has also cleared health and safety protocols, Rick Carlisle says. Won’t return immediately, could be available Saturday. – 6:12 PM
Tony East @TEastNBA
Jeremy Lamb has cleared health and safety protocols, Rick Carlisle says. He was with the team today, but likely won’t play today or tomorrow. – 6:10 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
Jeremy Lamb has cleared health and safety protocols but will NOT play tonight and it’s “unlikely” he’ll play tomorrow against the Nets, per Rick Carlisle. #Pacers6:09 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Tom Thibodeau said Kemba Walker is day to day with general knee soreness. Said the test results he received on Walker yesterday were good news. – 5:48 PM
Marc Berman @NYPost_Berman
Kemba is day to day. Nothing serious. Results came back OK. – 5:47 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Kemba testing came back just soreness. Day to day. – 5:47 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Tom Thibodeau says Kemba Walker’s test results on his knee came back positive, and that he remains day-to-day moving forward. – 5:47 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
Julius Randle is still a game-time decision tonight against the #Pacers. Nerlens Noel is OUT. Mitchell Robinson is IN, per Tom Thibodeau. – 5:46 PM
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Mitchell Robinson is playing tonight, per Thibodeau
* Julius Randle is a game time decision
* Nerlens Noel is out – 5:46 PM
Marc Berman @NYPost_Berman
Julius Randle will warm up and go from there. Mitchell Robinson is definitely in. – 5:46 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Nerlens Noel is OUT. Mitchell Robinson is in. Julius Randle is a game-time decision. All conditioning after coming out of protocols. – 5:45 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Tom Thibodeau says Kemba Walker is out, as is Nerlens Noel. Julius Randle is questionable and Mitchell Robinson will play. – 5:45 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
Randle will warm up and then they will decide. Mitch will play. Noel is out. – 5:45 PM
Steve Popper @StevePopper
And while I was driving to the game another one clears – Nerlens Noel has been cleared through the health and safety protocols. Listed as questionable – as are Randle, Robinson and Sims. – 4:39 PM
Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
The following 23 contracts will become guaranteed on Friday Jan. 7- 5PM ET.:
ATL: T. Luwawu-Cabarrot
BOS: J. Parker
BKN: D. Bembry
CHI: A.McKinnie, M. Thomas
CLE: E. Davis, L. Stevens, D. Wade
DAL: M. Brown
GSW: D. Lee, G. Payton II
IND: O. Brissett, K. Martin, K. Sykes – 4:35 PM
New York Knicks @nyknicks
Knicks are top 10 in total blocks this season at 196, with these two leading the way. pic.twitter.com/k9nA3N76Ml4:30 PM

Ian Begley @IanBegley
Knicks say Nerlens Noel has returned from health and safety protocols. He is questionable for tonight’s game due to conditioning. – 3:55 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Nerlens Noel has been cleared from health and safety protocols, Knicks say. He is questionable for tonight because of conditioning. – 3:55 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
The Knicks acquired the draft rights to Brad Newley and you probably didn’t think much of it. But Leon Rose has known him for a long time. Now @Brad Newley and his former agent come full circle. How Newley went from a 2007 Rockets draft pick to New York: theathletic.com/3050525/2022/0…3:55 PM
New York Knicks PR @NY_KnicksPR
Nerlens Noel has been cleared from health and safety protocols. He will be listed as questionable (return to play reconditioning) for tonight’s game. – 3:55 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
So @Mike Vorkunov actually spoke to the 36-year-old Australian whose draft rights the Knicks just acquired.
Story here on Brad Newley, who’s not a Knick but does have a connection: https://t.co/MzJOUbKkm0 pic.twitter.com/sKbiMLAxzk3:47 PM

Marc Berman @NYPost_Berman
Julius Randle off COVID list but will he play? #Knicks nypost.com/2022/01/04/jul…3:44 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Casey said Cade and Killian have done a much better job of being physical defensively. He said Saddiq was really good against Giannis and Randle. Praised Josh Jackson’s fronting defensively too. – 3:35 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Kyrie Irving not listed on #Nets injury report, so his return tomorrow is official. LaMarcus Aldridge (right foot soreness) is questionable. #pacers3:35 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Kyrie Irving is NOT listed on Brooklyn’s injury report for Wednesday’s game at Indiana for the first time this season, suggesting he will indeed make his season debut against the Pacers.
More NBA from me: marcstein.substack.com3:15 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Kyrie Irving is not listed on Nets injury report for tomorrow’s game at IND, so it appears team has deemed him available to play. – 3:14 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
For the first time this season, Kyrie Irving is NOT on the Nets injury report for tomorrow night at Indiana. – 3:14 PM
Indiana Pacers @Pacers
the Top 10 Plays of December 📹⤵️
@GEICO | #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/ftX48xQE2h2:59 PM

Yossi Gozlan @YossiGozlan
Skimming through players on non-guaranteed contracts ahead of the waiver guarantee deadline and I feel most of the cuts have already been done with Denzel Valentine, Wayne Selden, and Brad Wanamaker as of late. I don’t see too many players getting waived this week. – 2:30 PM
New York Knicks @nyknicks
The answer was C) Dikembe Mutombo.
On This Day in Knicks History: Deke blocked a Knicks record-tying 10 shots ☝️ pic.twitter.com/t52TCXIhZI2:30 PM

Alvaro Martin @AlvaroNBAMartin
A @NatMelendez5 y a @Memo_Schutz le ha tocado la asignación el miércoles del primer partido de retorno de @Kyrie Irving, pero solo por NBA League Pass. @Brooklyn Nets en @Indiana Pacers con @C_Duarte5, quien en algún momento le tocará marcar a Kyrie. Suscríbete a NBA League Pass. pic.twitter.com/fAiwbE5ssx2:21 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
If the Knicks hope to salvage their season, they have to start now. They play eight of their next ten games at home. And all ten opponents have a losing record or are, at best, .500.
tommybeer.substack.com/p/the-new-york…1:54 PM
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Julius Randle back from COVID list after Knicks struggled in his absence nydailynews.com/sports/basketb…1:49 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Wrote about the Knicks and the 36-year-old Australian basketball player they traded for theathletic.com/3050525/2022/0…1:47 PM