Sunday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers(2-2) faced off against the New York Knicks(2-2) in a big game four. Today, Indiana managed to tie the series up, putting the pressure on the Knicks as they head back to New York.
It seemed like the Indiana Pacers just couldn’t miss today. They shot with pinpoint accuracy from three and ripped through New York’s defenders in the paint. Finally, it looked like Indiana was fully locked in this game. More specifically, their starters didn’t let off on the pressure and remained consistent throughout. It was an absolute wreckage that showed some flaws in New York on both sides of the court.
Pacers Bench Players Have Major Takeover
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Pacers Obi Toppin was playing on another level today. In 18 minutes he had 14 points. He also played sturdy defense and moved the ball well. T.J. McConnell also had a fantastic night, giving the Pacers 15 points and 10 assists.
When your bench is playing this well, there is no way your team will lose. Even Indiana’s deep bench was better than New York’s. Jalen Smith gave them seven points in his 10-minute performance. This is how they need to play every single game. It’s easy for the Knicks to take over on the offensive end. Getting a deep lead in the first half is a necessity against this team, which is what the Pacers did.
Tyrese Haliburton Finally Performing as He Should
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Tyrese Haliburton played awful basketball in the team’s last series. His best performance against the Milwaukee Bucks was 18 points. His worst performance was a 38-minute and 9-point game, which is disgraceful for an All-Star. It looked like his playing ability had taken a major dive after his latest injury, and that would be what tanked this playoffs.
Though they’ve lost twice to the Knicks, Haliburton is back to playing as he should be. Today, he had a 20-point and six-rebound performance. In their last win on Friday, May 10, he had a 35-point game. However, the first game of the series was only a six-point performance.
Haliburton will have to keep up the pace for his team if they want to get a win in the explosive Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have been feeding off their loud crowd this playoffs. Getting an away win is the only way Indiana can make it to the next round.
Knicks Villanova Trio Have Horrible Game
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In this postseason, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo have been very consistent. The longtime teammates are a big reason for the success this team has seen this season. However, they didn’t seem to be locked in for game four.
Brunson had 18 points, which is a huge difference from what he was doing in every other game. He’s been rocking it every game, with 20+ points every other night. In fact, most nights, he was hitting 40 or more. This decline, plus the loss of OG Anunoby, was a sucker punch to the team.
Hart and DiVincenzo both looked awful today. Hart only had two points, while DiVincenzo had seven. The other starts (outside of Brunson) stayed under ten points as well. This was a complete offensive breakdown from a hot team. If they play this way again, it will be another massacre by the Indiana Pacers.
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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