Game Preview: Pacers vs Knicks (Game 3)

Friday, Might 10 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The Pacers are 3-0 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to date this postseason and might want to proceed to guard homecourt this weekend in the event that they wish to even their Japanese Convention Semifinal sequence with the New York Knicks.

The Knicks held serve at Madison Sq. Backyard this week, profitable Sport 1 on Monday and Sport 2 on Wednesday. In Wednesday’s sport, the Knicks outscored Indiana 67-48 after halftime to return away with a 130-121 victory.

The Pacers had constructed a 73-63 lead heading into the intermission and pushed the margin to 12 on Andrew Nembhard’s layup on Indiana’s opening possession of the third quarter. However the Knicks seized management from there, stringing collectively a 27-6 run over the following seven-plus minutes to grab management of the competition.

Donte DiVincenzo scored eight factors on two threes and a dunk in an preliminary 11-4 run that prompted a timeout from Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. After the stoppage, the Knicks reeled off 10 unanswered factors to maneuver in entrance they usually by no means relinquished the lead.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Comply with Indiana’s Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>

One optimistic for the Pacers within the loss was the play of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. After solely scoring six factors on six photographs in Sport 1, Haliburton made some extent of being extra assertive in Sport 2. He scored 13 factors within the first quarter on Wednesday, had 22 at halftime, and completed with a playoff career-high 34 factors on 11-of-19 capturing (7-of-11 from 3-point vary) to go together with six rebounds, 9 assists, and two steals.

Whereas Haliburton had an enormous night time and the bench continued to contribute, outscoring the Knicks’ reserves 46-12, it was a comparatively quiet night time for another Indiana starters. After scoring 23 factors in Sport 1, Pacers heart Myles Turner solely tallied six in Sport 2 whereas going 3-for-11 from the sector. Star ahead Pascal Siakam completed with 14 factors however want 18 photographs to get there.

Defensively, in the meantime, the Pacers have struggled to decelerate the Knicks. New York shot 57 % from the sector in Sport 2 and went 14-for-30 (46.7 %) from 3-point vary. For the second straight sport, all 5 New York starters reached double figures, with Jalen Brunson, DiVincenzo, and OG Anunoby all scoring 28 or extra factors and Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein each recording double-doubles.

The most important query heading into Sport 3 is the well being of a few the Knicks’ stars. Brunson missed the complete second quarter of Sport 2 after injuring his proper foot, although he returned to play the second half, scoring 24 factors over the ultimate two quarters. Anunoby then harm his left hamstring within the third quarter and didn’t return. If the Knicks — who’re already shorthanded with out Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Mitchell Robinson — shouldn’t have both or each of Brunson or Anunoby this weekend, that may be a major blow.

The Pacers can take consolation in realizing that it has been very tough for groups to win in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana is the one group within the NBA that has not misplaced a house sport within the final 50 days, because the Pacers’ final dwelling loss got here on March 18. The Blue & Gold swept three dwelling video games within the first spherical towards the Bucks in entrance of a raucous crowd and with the rival Knicks on the town, the environment ought to be much more electrical this weekend.

Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner

Knicks: G – Jalen Brunson, G – Donte DiVincenzo, F – Josh Hart, F – Valuable Achiuwa, C – Isaiah Hartenstein

Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton – questionable (decrease again spasms), Bennedict Mathurin – out (proper shoulder labral tear)

Knicks: Jalen Brunson – questionable (sore proper foot), OG Anunoby – out (left hamstring pressure), Bojan Bogdanovic – out (left foot surgical procedure), Julius Randle – out (proper shoulder surgical procedure), Mitchell Robinson – out (left ankle stress damage)

Might 8, 2024: The Pacers took a 73-63 lead into halftime on Wednesday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard, however the Knicks outscored Indiana 36-18 within the third quarter and by no means relinquished the lead en path to a 130-121 win in Sport 2.

After lacking the complete second quarter with a sore proper foot, Jalen Brunson returned for the second half and scored 24 of his team-high 29 factors over the ultimate two quarters. OG Anunoby added 28 factors on 10-of-19 capturing (4-of-9 from 3-point vary) regardless of lacking the entire fourth quarter with a hamstring damage and Donte DiVincenzo scored 28 to go together with six rebounds and 4 assists whereas going 6-for-12 from 3-point vary.

Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 34 factors, six rebounds, and 9 assists within the loss, going 11-for-19 from the sector and 7-for-11 from 3-point vary. Obi Toppin scored 20 factors off the bench, whereas fellow reserve T.J. McConnell recorded a double-double with 10 factors and 12 assists.

TV: ESPN – Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

The Pacers will host the Knicks for Sport 3 of the Japanese Convention Semifinals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 7:00 PM on Friday, Might 10. Discover Tickets >>