Yes, cacti have evolved to eliminate leaves and replace them with spines.
Your description generally describes a cactus. However, cactus spines do not point only downward. They can point in any direction.
The leaves of pine trees are needle-like.
No. Some may be considered as leaves but not really. Christmas cactus for instance grows in thin segmented stalks reminiscent of leaves. Cactus flowers have petal that are leafy and green like leaves but not really leaves. barrel cactus and saquaros obviously have no leafy protrusions beyond their flowers.
needle-like leaves
Conifers have needle-like leaves, have cones instead of flowers and produce seeds.
Most conifers have needles that serve the same purpose as leaves.
Tools+cactus= needle
The "needle like leaves" could be eastern hemlock if they have small needles that don't hurt when you touch their ends.
A conifer has needle shaped leaves. The cones are the seed bearers.
Leaves have evolved into spines on the cactus.
A spine.