For most of the postseason, the New York Knicks have played the role of the underdog. They’ve done that against the Pistons, and most recently against the Boston Celtics. However, the roles were reversed in the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Indiana Pacers were the ones who overcame a 17-point deficit in the final six minutes to steal a 1-0 lead in front of a packed Madison Square Garden. But how did this happen?

“Our intensity dropped,” New York’s Josh Hard stated after the defeat. That’s bad news, given they have to gear up for round two against the Pacers. So, are the Knicks ready for tonight?

Well, the Knicks had a couple of bright spots in this disappointing defeat. One of them was Karl-Anthony Towns, as he finished the night with 35 points and 12 rebounds. The New York center was red-hot from the field as he went 11-of-17 from the floor. However, is he ready to suit up for tonight? You bet. Karl-Anthony Towns is all set to play tonight, as the 29-year-old is not on the team’s injury report. That’s massive news for the Knicks, who are in much need of a win tonight. Otherwise, this could turn out to be their last matchup at the MSG for this season. While KAT is available, there have been some concerns about New York’s OG Anunoby. 

Anunoby did not have the best of nights in Game 1 against Tyrese Haliburton and Co. The Knicks defender was lackluster and managed to score just 16 points. However, he’ll have a shot at redemption tonight, as OG Anunoby is also available to suit up tonight. While he did not show up in Game 1, the Knicks forward has been pretty solid throughout the postseason. He’s averaging 15.8 points along with 4.8 rebounds in the playoffs.

So, having him will be huge for the Knicks, who aim to bring the series back to even terms tonight. However, they’ll have to put the past ghosts aside and focus on tonight. 

When talking about past ghosts, we are not talking about the team’s collapse in the latter stages of the game. We are talking about an unusual incident that took place with just a few seconds left in the game. In a video that has now gained traction on social media, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby are both seen going at each other during a timeout. This doesn’t give the Knicks a good look, remembering that chemistry is everything in the playoffs.

This defeat has left New York with a lot of questions already, and now the heated conversation doesn’t make things any better. Nonetheless, this also makes you think about whether there will be any changes in Tom Thibodeau’s tactics tonight.

How can the Knicks lineup tonight?

Tom Thibodeau is well known for his stubborn tactics and not making changes easily. While it has worked in their favor, Game 1 was different. The Knicks seemed to have lost their spark after being solid for most of the game. Was fatigue the reason? Well, none of the players blamed fatigue for the loss. However, it was something that was pointed out before the series started. So, will we see a change tonight?

Well, it seems unlikely, but we can hope for more rotation off the bench. So, here’s how the Knicks can start:

Overall, this is a must-win game for New York’s perspective, as they would not want to go to Indiana with a 0-2 deficit. They do seem to have all the assets to pull off a win tonight. That’s because, despite the late collapse, they were in control for most of the game. However, to grab the win, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson will need some support.

Meanwhile, the Pacers will do everything possible to put New York to sleep tonight and take a 2-0 advantage on their home court. So, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top tonight.