Knicks ‘just didn’t have that magic’ in Game 4 loss to Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — A lot of the New York Knicks’ unbelievable postseason journey — from their 21-0 run within the fourth quarter to storm again and beat the Detroit Pistons of their playoff opener, to Karl-Anthony Cities’ dominant 20-point fourth quarter in Sunday’s Sport 3 to steer a come-from-behind win over the Indiana Pacers — has been predicated on the crew’s abilty to dig out of deep holes.

And if the Knicks are going to by some means advance to the NBA Finals, it may require them to climb out of no less than yet one more.

New York stumbled out of the gate defensively Tuesday night time, surrendering 43 factors within the first quarter and a near-triple-double to star guard Tyrese Haliburton within the first half. It was an indication of issues to return. And although the Knicks stayed inside hanging distance, they could not generate sufficient defensive stops to stage a comeback, dropping 130-121 in Sport 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

With the defeat, New York trails Indiana 3-1 within the Jap Convention finals. It means the Knicks would wish to defeat the Pacers — who have not misplaced back-to-back video games since early March — three straight occasions to achieve the Finals.

The Knicks managed to tug to inside six factors within the closing minutes, leaving many questioning if they might do the unthinkable once more after getting into the ultimate quarter trailing by double digits. However New York wasn’t stable sufficient this time — particularly on protection — as Haliburton and Pascal Siakam took over down the stretch.

“In true fashion to our whole playoff run, we put ourselves in a deficit, got ourselves out of the deficit, and then usually we feel good about us going into a close game in the fourth quarter and showing our resilience. But you get burned if you put yourself in that position too many times,” Cities mentioned. “We think coming into the fourth quarter that we’re going to find that one trick again. We just didn’t have that magic tonight.”

A number of Knicks outlined the challenges that include going through these Pacers. Greater than most golf equipment, the Pacers make you pay for turnovers. New York has realized it the arduous approach all through, and did so once more Tuesday with 17 miscues –five from wing Josh Hart alone — that Indiana cashed in for 20 factors.

Past that, there’s the psychological job of guarding Rick Carlisle’s up-tempo crew, which forces steady correct defensive rotations — a course of that exploits a crew for the tiniest back-end mistake.

Between the Knicks utilizing a comparatively new beginning 5 and them having completely different substitution patterns due to early foul hassle, the Pacers have discovered simple baskets repeatedly once they capitalize on these missteps.

“I think it’s difficult for any team [to stop]. You can stop one action, but then it’s the next action and the next action,” Hart mentioned of defending Indiana’s assault, which shot 51% total and 40% from 3. “If one domino falls … that one person’s mess-up is messing up the whole possession. Obviously they’re running good stuff, but we have to make sure that we’re physical and locked in and just make it tough for them.”

It wasn’t as if the Knicks did not have offensive success of their very own. Jalen Brunson and Cities mixed for 55 factors — and had 19 journeys to the free throw line — on 50% capturing from the sphere. OG Anunoby turned a second-half focus offensively within the paint, and had an environment friendly 22-point effort.

However the flipside was revealing: Haliburton and Siakam mixed for 62 factors and likewise shot 50%. Haliburton had a historic playoff stat line, turning into the primary participant in postseason historical past to log no less than 30 factors, 15 assists and 10 rebounds and not using a turnover since turnovers had been first tracked in 1977-78, in response to ESPN Analysis.

Pacers reserve Bennedict Mathurin additionally had 20 factors and took solely eight pictures.

Brunson, who has been focused by Haliburton and the Pacers on protection all through the sequence, acknowledged that he must be simpler.

“I’m not doing enough,” he mentioned. “There has to be a difference on my part when it comes to that.”

Cities then mentioned the complete crew has a duty to raised defend Haliburton.

“It’s not just him. It’s all of us,” mentioned Cities, who walked into the postgame information convention with a heavy limp after sustaining a left knee harm late within the fourth quarter, although he remained within the recreation. “We all have to do a better job of making it more difficult for each of them to score.”