Injured Knicks overwhelmed by Pacers in Game 4

In a horrific turn of events, the Pacers swiftly evened the series against the Knicks with a crushing 121-89 victory in Game 4, bringing the tally to 2-2.

The absence of OG Anunoby for the second consecutive game proved to be a significant blow for the Knicks, who couldn’t replicate their competitiveness from Game 3’s narrow defeat.

Right from the tip-off, the Pacers asserted dominance, storming to a commanding 34-14 lead in the opening quarter and maintaining their grip on the game throughout.

Despite a commendable effort off the bench from Alec Burks, who notched up a team-high 20 points, and contributions from Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride, the Knicks found themselves trailing by as much as 43 points, with their closest approach in the second half being a 28-point deficit.

The Pacers’ offensive prowess was on full display, consistently breaching the Knicks’ defense to score 32 points or more in each of the first three quarters.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers’ scoring efforts with 20 points, supported by strong performances from TJ McConnel with 15 points. Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, each contributed 14 points.

However, it was a night to forget for the Knicks, as they struggled to find their rhythm, shooting a dismal 30-89 from the field, including a mere 7-37 from beyond the arc.

Coach Thibodeau made the strategic decision to rest his starters for much of the second half, providing valuable minutes to players who saw limited action during the regular season. Shake Milton, DaQuan Jeffries, and Mamadi Diakite seized the opportunity to make meaningful contributions, each making their mark on the scoreboard.

Milton, who averaged a mere 4.5 minutes in 6 games throughout the regular season, scored 3 points, playing a substantial 15 minutes during last night’s game. Similarly, Jeffries, with an average of just 2.7 minutes across 15 games, was called upon and responded with 5 points, logging 13 minutes on the court. Even Diakite, who saw limited action with only 9 minutes throughout the entire season, was given the opportunity to showcase his skills, playing for 9 minutes during the game. He scored 2.

With their sights set on Game 5, scheduled for Tuesday night at 8:00 pm, the Knicks aim to regroup and stage a strong comeback, banking on the return of their rested starters to turn the tide in their favor once again.