The New York Knicks managed to follow up on their NBA Cup Championship with a 114-113 victory over the Indiana Pacers

Jalen Brunson led all Knicks scorers with 25 points, but it was Tyler Kolek who received praise from the Knicks star. 

Coming off the bench, Kolek had 16 points and 11 assists for his first career double double. 

After the game, Brunson said that he was garbage, but thanked the lord for Kolek. 

"I want to thank the lord for Tyler Kolek, for playing the way he's playing... and saving me."

Asked about the difference in Kolek over the last several weeks, Brunson said that he stays ready and works as hard as anyone. "He is always in the gym with me," said Brunson. "The world may be surprised by it, but we knew what he's capable of." 

Coming off the bench for the short-handed Knicks, Kolek played 26 minutes and shot 70% from the field, including 50% from three on four tries. 

Kolek's playmaking was display as he found open shooters on drivers and rollers to the basket. 

His find of OG Anunoby in the corner for three with two minutes remaining tied the game at 111 after the Pacers went on a run in the fourth quarter to take the lead.

Jalen Brunson hit the game-winner, a side-stepping three-pointer over the outstretched arm of Andrew Nembhard with four seconds remaining.

The Pacers had an opportunity to win it at the buzzer, but Pascal Siakam stumbled over the foot of Nembhard on the ensuing in-bounds, leading to a steal by OG Anunoby. Though Anunoby's layup was blocked by Siakam on the fast break, Kolek secured the offensive rebound as time expired.

The Knicks were without starters Josh Hart (abdominal strain) and Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee soreness) and top frontcourt reserve Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management).

Mohamed Diawara and Ariel Hukporti started in place of Hart and Towns. Diawara played 18 minutes and scored five points with three rebounds. Hukporti played 26 minutes and contributed four points with five rebounds and three assists.

Aside from Kolek's double-double the Knicks bench was led by Jordan Clarkson, who had 18 points including five three pointers. 

The Knicks may have had a bit of an NBA Cup Championship hangover, taking a quarter to get out of the gate.

The Pacers led 20-9 halfway through the first quarter and 34-20 with two minutes remaining in the quarter.

New York managed to 11 by the end of the quarter, but there was work to be done.

In the second quarter, the Knicks outscored the Pacers, 34-26, as they started to attack the paint with 16 points to cut the Pacers' lead to just three at the half.