NEW YORK (Interstat) — A surging New York Knicks squad will look to continue its climb in the Eastern Conference standings when it hosts the struggling Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The Knicks (35-19) enter having won eight of their last 10 games, including a dominant 111-89 road victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday. All-Star guard Jalen Brunson is playing at an elite level, averaging 23.8 points and 5.8 assists over his last 10 contests. He erupted for 42 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in a win over Denver last week, followed by a 31-point, eight-assist performance in Boston. In stark contrast, the Pacers (13-40) have lost four straight and 12 of their last 14. Their most recent outing was a 122-104 defeat in Toronto on Sunday. Center Jay Huff, coming off a season-high 30 minutes where he posted 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, has emerged as a bright spot. Over his last 10 games, Huff is averaging 9.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, providing energy for a team in need of it. The teams last met on Dec. 18, with the Knicks escaping Indianapolis with a 114-113 victory. Brunson led New York with 28 points in that contest. For the Knicks, the game represents a critical opportunity to bank a win before a challenging stretch that includes a road back-to-back against Philadelphia and Cleveland later this month. Their success continues to run through Brunson’s orchestration and a defense that has held opponents under 100 points in three of the last five games. The Pacers, mired near the bottom of the conference, are searching for any consistency. Beyond Huff’s recent play, they will need significant contributions from veterans like Pascal Siakam, who scored 18 points in the loss to Toronto. Indiana begins a two-game road trip in New York before facing Brooklyn on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden.