Knicks and Pacers Set for Game 4 Showdown
The New York Knicks take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal-round series. The Knicks lead the series, 2-1.
The Knicks (6-3 postseason) were able to outlast a feisty Pacers squad in the first two games of the series, but Indiana had a bit more in the tank during a 111-106 victory in Game 3 on Friday night. Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 35 points, adding three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Jalen Brunson supplied 26 points, six assists and one steal. Alec Burks totaled 14 points, four boards, one assist, one steal and one block. Josh Hart generated a 10-point, 18-rebound double-double that included four assists and two steals. Miles McBride matched Hart's scoring and added two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Knicks will be without OG Anunoby (hamstring) for Sunday's game.
The Pacers (5-4 postseason) were able to overcome the adversity that had besieged them over the first two games in front of the home fans, atoning for blowing an early lead with a dynamic defensive performance in the fourth quarter during which they allowed only 16 points. Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 35 points, adding seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and one block. Pascal Siakam delivered 26 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block. Myles Turner generated a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist and three blocks. Aaron Nesmith finished with 10 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Pacers will list Haliburton (back/ankle) and Nesmith (shoulder) as questionable for Sunday's game.
Sunday's game marks the seventh meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. Each team has won three games.
The Knicks (6-3 postseason) were able to outlast a feisty Pacers squad in the first two games of the series, but Indiana had a bit more in the tank during a 111-106 victory in Game 3 on Friday night. Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 35 points, adding three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Jalen Brunson supplied 26 points, six assists and one steal. Alec Burks totaled 14 points, four boards, one assist, one steal and one block. Josh Hart generated a 10-point, 18-rebound double-double that included four assists and two steals. Miles McBride matched Hart's scoring and added two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Knicks will be without OG Anunoby (hamstring) for Sunday's game.
The Pacers (5-4 postseason) were able to overcome the adversity that had besieged them over the first two games in front of the home fans, atoning for blowing an early lead with a dynamic defensive performance in the fourth quarter during which they allowed only 16 points. Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 35 points, adding seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and one block. Pascal Siakam delivered 26 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block. Myles Turner generated a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double that included one assist and three blocks. Aaron Nesmith finished with 10 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Pacers will list Haliburton (back/ankle) and Nesmith (shoulder) as questionable for Sunday's game.
Sunday's game marks the seventh meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. Each team has won three games.
T'Wolves Host Nuggets in Game 4, Up 2-1
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at Target Center on Sunday.
Minnesota leads this series, 2-1.
The Nuggets (1-2) appeared to hit rock bottom when they were blown out at home in Game 2 but hitting the bottom means that you have nowhere to go but up. That certainly appeared to be the case in Game 3, with Denver rolling in a blowout win on the road. It's hard to understand why there was such a massive discrepancy between those two games, but the world champs showed some serious residency in that 117-90 Game 3 win. Nikola Jokic had an amazing all-around showing, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and three blocks. Getting three steals and three blocks set a foundation for a defensive display, and one more win would have Denver flipping homecourt back in their favor.
The Timberwolves (2-1) won their first six games of the postseason but didn't show up in Friday's Game 3 defeat. They were actually outperformed in every major statistic, trailing by 20 points for most of the second half of that game. An outlier is no big deal, but the Timberwolves need to make sure that was just that. Another poor showing here could even up this series at 2-2 and undo all the good work they did in Denver. What was really bizarre was the lack of effort on the defensive end. Denver shot 54 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range, while crushing Minnesota on the glass. That's not something you see often from the best defense in the NBA and you better believe they'll play with more effort here.
Minnesota leads this series, 2-1.
The Nuggets (1-2) appeared to hit rock bottom when they were blown out at home in Game 2 but hitting the bottom means that you have nowhere to go but up. That certainly appeared to be the case in Game 3, with Denver rolling in a blowout win on the road. It's hard to understand why there was such a massive discrepancy between those two games, but the world champs showed some serious residency in that 117-90 Game 3 win. Nikola Jokic had an amazing all-around showing, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and three blocks. Getting three steals and three blocks set a foundation for a defensive display, and one more win would have Denver flipping homecourt back in their favor.
The Timberwolves (2-1) won their first six games of the postseason but didn't show up in Friday's Game 3 defeat. They were actually outperformed in every major statistic, trailing by 20 points for most of the second half of that game. An outlier is no big deal, but the Timberwolves need to make sure that was just that. Another poor showing here could even up this series at 2-2 and undo all the good work they did in Denver. What was really bizarre was the lack of effort on the defensive end. Denver shot 54 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range, while crushing Minnesota on the glass. That's not something you see often from the best defense in the NBA and you better believe they'll play with more effort here.