The Knicks lost to the Pacers 111-106 thanks to a three from Andrew Nembhard. But the loss leaves me confident New York can win if healthy.
The New York Knicks lost to the Indiana Pacers, 111-106, bringing their series lead to a precarious 2-1. The Knicks played without OG Anunoby and with Jalen Brunson hobbled, but the game still came down to the final minute.
The Pacers rushed out to a lead as Jalen Brunson struggled to work through his foot injury. Brunson missed his first few shots and came up limping after an attempt. But Donte DiVincenzo stepped up to keep things close. DiVo received help from an unlikely source when Alec Burks exploded in the second quarter, helping New York close the gap.
Brunson came alive in the third quarter, and DiVincenzo continued to knock down shots. They helped New York take a lead into the fourth quarter. But Brunson labored through the fourth, leaving the teams tied in the final minute. The Knicks missed free throws and failed to secure defensive rebounds, leading to a miraculous three-pointer from Andrew Nembhard that decided the game.
The Knicks fought hard despite injuries, but the Pacers pulled it out. Let’s see how New York managed to make this a dogfight.
The Knicks’ starters fumble a big game from DiVo
Jalen Brunson: 26 PTS (10/26 FG, 2/6 3PT, 4/7 FT), 6 AST, 1 STL, 5 TO in 38 mins
Jalen Brunson limped through his first-quarter minutes and never looked like himself. He lacked the explosiveness to get a step on defenders to get shots up or draw fouls. All of the Knicks’ star’s points came the hard way, battling through contact and shooting over or around defenders.
Brunson occasionally lost his balance, leading to turnovers and costing possessions. But he still found his way to advantageous spots in the third quarter. It’s no coincidence that New York’s best quarter came when Brunson found his rhythm. Unfortunately, that didn’t last, as he couldn’t get many shots to fall in the crucial fourth quarter.
I can’t fault Brunson for the inefficient night. He clearly fought through discomfort and still pushed Indiana to the brink. But I do wish the Knicks had given Donte DiVincenzo more opportunities to take clutch time possessions since he had the hot hand. Brunson gets a 2.5 out of 5 for gutting this game out.
Donte DiVincenzo: 35 PTS (12/26 FG, 7/11 3PT, 4/4 FT), 2 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 44 mins
Donte DiVincenzo nearly stole this game. He went shot for shot with Tyrese Haliburton, seeming to hit a three every time the Pacers looked ready to take over. DiVo also attacked off the bounce, finding seams to finish inside through the early portions of the action, though his jumper keyed most of the scoring.
DiVincenzo’s defense deserves a nod as well. He’s defended well since the series clincher in Philadelphia, which continued in Indiana. The Big Ragu picked up an impressive block on Pascal Siakam by helping from the baseline.
DiVincenzo gave New York a two-way boost, driving the offense and helping on defense. He would have been the hero of game three if not for Andrew Nembhard’s lucky shot late. I only wish he’d been more assertive down the stretch. DiVo gets a 4.5 out of 5 for a heroic performance.
Josh Hart: 10 PTS (4/7 FG, 1/1 3PT, 1/2 FT), 4 AST, 18 REB, 2 STL, 4 TO in 43 mins
I found myself frustrated with Josh Hart. He asserted himself in plenty of positive ways, but not as a scorer. Hart hesitated on a few open looks from three, and Indiana did a better job of keeping him out of the lanes. That caused Hart to score less and turn the ball over more.
Hart did a fantastic job on the defensive glass, which makes it surprising he didn’t do much in transition. It also shows a sore spot for New York because when Hart didn’t secure defensive boards late, nobody else helped. I’m trying to figure out what to think of New York’s energizer failing to grab an offensive board since he nearly tallied 20 boards anyway.
It’s noteworthy that Hart did a hell of a job defending Pascal Siakam. Siakam did his thing, but Hart forced the Pacer star to battle for most of his buckets. The Knicks’ energizer turned in a quality effort, but it’s a regression from the lofty heights of his recent performances. Hart gets a 3 out of 5 for fighting hard.
Precision Achiuwa: 5 PTS (2/3 FG, 1/2 FT), 6 REB, 3 BLK, 2 TO in 22 mins
Precious Achiuwa continues to provide mixed results for the Knicks. At his best, we see him rotating well and containing players who have previously found success through screens. I credit Precious for TJ McConnell’s return to Earth, as Achiuwa took away free looks in the lanes. Achiuwa also allowed New York to switch more freely on defense.
But Precious looked overmatched when trying to guard Pascal Siakam. He held his own against most others, but his best minutes separated from Hartenstein’s. So, maybe the starting unit needs a change. Precious gets a 2.5 out of 5 for his defensive impact.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 6 PTS (3/4 FG), 5 AST, 8 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 39 mins
I’d hoped Isaiah Hartenstein would step up in a big way. He turned in a passable performance but lacked much punch. I-Hart grabbed boards well enough but didn’t impose his size on the glass. He did a nice job passing, but not enough to cover for what was lost with Brunson hobbled.
I-Hart’s defense was a disappointment. Myles Turner cooked him for 21 points and 10 boards, including a plethora of baskets right in the paint. Typically, Hartenstein’s defense can be game-changing, but it lacked bite in game three.
That’s not to call Hartenstein’s game “bad.” But it felt underwhelming compared to what we’ve seen from him throughout these playoffs. I-Hart gets a 2.5 out of 5 for a solid but forgettable performance.
New York’s second unit gets a scoring boost
Miles McBride: 10 PTS (3/8 FG, 2/5 3PT, 2/2 FT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 1 STL in 29 mins
Miles McBride finally got some offense going. He knocked down a pair of threes and took Haliburton to the rim for a layup. However, Deuce also missed some open looks that could have pushed his game to another level.
I’m happy to report that McBride finally contained TJ McConnell. Thanks to Precious’ mobility, Deuce had extra help defenders in the lane, but Deuce also seemed to figure out McConnell’s off-balance jumpers in the lane. McBride challenged that shot more often than not this time.
Deuce played an alright game, but his production was lacking for 29 minutes of action. He has another level to reach, but he scratched at the surface during this game. Deuce gets a 2 out of 5 for a solid bench role.
Alec Burks: 14 PTS (4/6 FG, 2/4 3PT, 4/5 FT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK in 21 mins
Alec Burks provided a much-needed spark off the bench. He entered the game and quickly knocked down shots, scoring all but one point in the second quarter. Burks’ shooting is even more impressive, considering how little he’s played over the past month and a half.
Burks flashed veteran savvy on defense. He had a block and a steal to point to on the score sheet and also created a jump ball that probably should have been a forced turnover. Burks put together his best defensive effort since the trade.
Let’s hope the microwave scorer keeps this up. New York needs help, particularly off the bench, and Burks stepped up in a big way. He gets a 3 out of 5 for reclaiming momentum for New York at a precarious moment.
Jericho Sims 0 PTS (0/0 FG) in 4 mins
Jericho Sims entered the game but looked a step behind the action. His only notable play was a hard foul on Andrew Nesmith.
Tom Thibodeau slips up
I have my first major criticism of Tom Thibodeau in this series. He wasted his second challenge on an out-of-bounds call that ended in a jump ball. It was technically a successful challenge, but it felt less meaningful than it could have been.
The out-of-bounds debate was sandwiched between two and-one finishes for Indiana that looked like charges. Haliburton picked up three points on a near-charge against Deuce McBride, and Siakam did the same against Brunson. Either of the plays getting overturned could have been the difference in this game.
I called out Rick Carlisle for poor management of his challenges in game one, so I’ll point this error out for Thibs.
Closing Thoughts
I can’t believe the Pacers won on a play like that. Tyrese Haliburton didn’t want the ball, and Andrew Nembhard threw up a prayer. That’s how the Pacers finally picked up a win. It’s an odd conclusion that seemed to continue Indiana’s trend of executing poorly in the clutch, but they got a miracle.
So am I confident because of the result or worried? I’ll admit I’m nervous. Brunson’s foot doesn’t have much time to heal, and that might have been the break that gives Indiana confidence down the stretch of future games. But if Brunson’s healthy, New York takes the series.
It pains me to think that injuries could be the difference between winning and losing. But that’s basketball! Sixers fans will point to Embiid’s injury every time I troll them over the first round. But it’s galling to watch podcasters call New York’s run a fluke while they fight on without Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and now OG Anunoby.
Sunday afternoon is a chance for redemption. Let’s hope Brunson’s foot improves and Donte’s inferno stays on. I’ll see you next time, Knicks fam!
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