Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby save Knicks from NBA Cup hangover with late heroics in win over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — It took a while, but the Knicks recovered from their NBA Cup hangover.The cure was — who else? — Captain Clutch.After struggling for much of the fourth quarter with his shots falling short, Brunson hit the biggest one of Thursday’s 114-113 victory over Pacers, when he nailed a trey over Andrew Nembhard. It gave the Knicks a one-point lead — their first advantage of the final seven minutes — and OG Anunoby sealed New York’s win with his steal off Indiana’s subsequent possession. Not counting the NBA Cup final victory (which doesn’t apply toward the regular-season record), the Knicks (19-7) have won six straight and 10 of their last 11. But Thursday night was an uphill battle from the moment they landed in Indy. The Knicks were fresh off their celebration and feeling penalized by the league for making the final, forced into Thursday’s front end of a back-to-back be right after grinding out two games in Vegas. The Pacers, meanwhile, hadn’t played since a home game Sunday. “Somehow, someway, they have to look at the back end of the schedule for anybody who is in the final game,” Brown said.“Because it’s almost like you get penalized for winning it, schedule-wise.

We’ve talked about it all year how the games are so close now.But you get penalized for winning the Cup.”...