Depleted Knicks ripped by Pacers after making blockbuster trade

INDIANAPOLIS — The Knicks were missing several perimeter players Saturday night, both old and new, with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley jettisoned in a trade and prized newcomer OG Anunoby not yet with them following his acquisition from the Raptors earlier in the day.

Anunoby is expected to arrive in time for Monday’s New Year’s matinee against the Timberwolves at the Garden, but the Knicks certainly could have used the renowned defensive stopper against the Pacers.

With the deal leaving them temporarily undermanned, the Knicks completed a dreadful 0-3 road trip with a 140-126 loss at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“Just as simple as I can: terrible,” Jalen Brunson said, “We can do a lot better defensively. Offensively, it is not a problem right now. I can be better defensively. We can be better defensively. We just need to step it up on that side of the ball.”

Donte DiVincenzo netted a career-high 38 points and combined with Brunson and Julius Randle (28 apiece) for 94 points within Tom Thibodeau’s shortened eight-man rotation for the Knicks, who have slipped to 17-15 and a half-game behind the Pacers into the eighth play-in position in the Eastern Conference standings.

“Obviously the defense is problematic,” Thibodeau said. “I thought the first half we hung in there pretty good but in the second half, 70-something points [allowed]. We scored, but we gotta play defense.”