Knicks vs Pacers: The worrying fallout from the Bucks loss and the big question mark over Brunson

The buzz at Madison Square Garden has gone cold. What looked like a breakout season for the New York Knicks is starting to show cracks, and the next 48 hours could be a real turning point. After copping a heavy defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks, Tom Thibodeau's squad is gearing up to host an Indiana Pacers side that has its back against the wall and will be out to make life difficult for a New York outfit that, to make matters worse, might be without its leader: Jalen Brunson.

The night Milwaukee exposed every flaw

This wasn't just any loss. The way the Bucks took care of the Knicks left more than just a bad scoreline; it left the feeling that this team still can't find that automatic rhythm when it matters most. With no flow on offence, the defence — meant to be their trademark — was leaking points everywhere. Giannis Antetokounmpo and co. did whatever they wanted in the paint, and New York's perimeter defence was a step slow all night. That kind of fragility is exactly what the Pacers will be hoping to see so they can do the same.

Brunson racing the clock

If the psychological blow was tough, the news that dropped hours later made it all so much worse. The injury report updated with a phrase no fan wants to read: Jalen Brunson is a serious doubt for the clash against Indiana. What started as simple load management has turned into an injury that has him listed as 'doubtful', and in NBA speak, that usually means unless a miracle happens, the point guard will be watching from the bench in his street clothes. Without their playmaker on the floor, the Knicks don't just lose their top scorer, but the one guy who can steady the ship when the game turns into a track meet.

What's next: a clash between desperate teams

Waiting for them are a Pacers team that can smell blood. Indiana knows a win at the Garden would be a real statement and, on top of that, would put direct pressure on the New Yorkers in the standings. The Haliburton-Siakam combo is building nicely and, if Brunson is out, the away defence can focus all its energy on shutting down Randle and forcing the supporting cast to take on responsibilities they might not be ready for.

Here’s what's on the line tonight:

• Brunson's absence: If he ends up not playing, Miles McBride will have to step up, but his game is more shooting guard than floor general. The team will lose its flow.
• The paint will be a war zone: Myles Turner and Jalen Smith have a license to intimidate. If the Knicks can't hit from deep, it's going to be a long, painful night.
• The emotional factor: They're coming off an ugly loss to the Bucks and all the uncertainty around their star player. The locker room needs to show some character, or let the doubts consume them.
• Indiana's bench: The Pacers have a second unit that runs and guns like crazy. If New York's starters aren't on their game, the gap could blow out early.

The Knicks have way more than just a game on the line here. They're playing for the credibility of a project that was supposed to be a real threat in the East. A loss to the Pacers, on the back of that hammering from Milwaukee, would have alarm bells ringing everywhere. And with Brunson limping, a worrying loss to the Pacers could become the headline no one in New York wants to read. Tonight we'll find out if this team has some fight left, or if they're about to let the season slip through their fingers at the worst possible time.