Indiana took the floor for the first time in the 2021-22 season on Tuesday night in New York. At halftime at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks led the Pacers, 67-55.
The Pacers got to the rim early, converting layups on three of their first four attempts. But they missed their next six shots as the Knicks reeled off 10 unanswered points.
Justin Holiday scored eight points in the opening frame for Indiana, but New York controlled the quarter, leading by as many as 13 and taking a 36-26 advantage into the second quarter.
Rookies Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson checked in late in the first quarter and combined for 12 straight Pacers points over five-minute stretch spanning the end of the first and beginning of the second quarters.