Knicks and Pacers Set for Game 3
The New York Knicks take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal-round series. The Knicks lead the series, 2-0.
The Knicks (6-2 postseason) were able to grind out a pair of hard-fought, high-scoring wins on their Madison Square Garden home floor to open the series. The most recent came in Wednesday's Game 2, when they bested the Pacers by a 130-121 score. Jalen Brunson led the way with 29 points, adding five assists, two rebounds and three steals. Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby generated matching 28-point contributions while recording six and four rebounds, respectively. They also contributed four and three assists apiece, but Anunoby exited the game late due to a hamstring injury. Josh Hart generated a 19-point, 15-rebound double-double that included seven assists, one steal and one block. Isaiah Hartenstein produced 14 points, 12 boards, eight assists and one block.
The Knicks will list Brunson (foot) and Anunoby as questionable for Friday's game. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of the postseason.
The Pacers (4-4 postseason) have been left considerably frustrated by the officiating over the first two games, so much so that they submitted video of 78 questionable calls over the first two games to the league office early Thursday. Indiana has fought hard in both games and was led by Tyrese Haliburton's 34-point, nine-assist effort in Game 2. The star guard also produced six rebounds and three steals. Obi Toppin supplied 20 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Andrew Nembhard furnished 15 points and four assists. Pascal Siakam turned in 14 points, nine boards, two assists and one block. Ben Sheppard totaled 11 points, while T.J. McConnell contributed a 10-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds.
The Pacers will come into Friday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Friday's game marks the sixth meeting of the season between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Knicks have won three of the first five games.
The Knicks (6-2 postseason) were able to grind out a pair of hard-fought, high-scoring wins on their Madison Square Garden home floor to open the series. The most recent came in Wednesday's Game 2, when they bested the Pacers by a 130-121 score. Jalen Brunson led the way with 29 points, adding five assists, two rebounds and three steals. Donte DiVincenzo and OG Anunoby generated matching 28-point contributions while recording six and four rebounds, respectively. They also contributed four and three assists apiece, but Anunoby exited the game late due to a hamstring injury. Josh Hart generated a 19-point, 15-rebound double-double that included seven assists, one steal and one block. Isaiah Hartenstein produced 14 points, 12 boards, eight assists and one block.
The Knicks will list Brunson (foot) and Anunoby as questionable for Friday's game. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of the postseason.
The Pacers (4-4 postseason) have been left considerably frustrated by the officiating over the first two games, so much so that they submitted video of 78 questionable calls over the first two games to the league office early Thursday. Indiana has fought hard in both games and was led by Tyrese Haliburton's 34-point, nine-assist effort in Game 2. The star guard also produced six rebounds and three steals. Obi Toppin supplied 20 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Andrew Nembhard furnished 15 points and four assists. Pascal Siakam turned in 14 points, nine boards, two assists and one block. Ben Sheppard totaled 11 points, while T.J. McConnell contributed a 10-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds.
The Pacers will come into Friday's game without any short-term injuries to report.
Friday's game marks the sixth meeting of the season between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Knicks have won three of the first five games.
T'Wolves Host Nuggets in Game 3, Up 2-0
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at Target Center on Friday.
Minnesota leads this series, 2-0. Teams that go up 2-0 win about 93 percent of the series in NBA history, and almost all of those have been the home team.
The Timberwolves (2-0) played Game 2 without Rudy Gobert, but they played one of their best defensive games of the season. They led by nearly 30 points at the half and dominated that road game from start to finish, holding Denver below 35 percent shooting. What was really telling was the way they killed Denver's will, playing some of the best defense we've ever seen. Doing that without the Defensive Player of the Year is telling of how well this team plays together but it's no surprise that they had the best defensive rating during the regular season. It's also good news that the big man is expected to return here, and they're now just two wins away from reaching the Western Conference Finals.
The Nuggets (0-2) looked to be outmatched in Game 2, and it's difficult to see where they go from here. It's rare to see an NBA team look so overwhelmed by another team's physicality, but that was the case for Denver. They were complaining with the officials all night in that Game 2 blowout defeat and were lucky not to pick up multiple technicals. In any case, this series is far from over because the Nuggets have won four of five games many times over the last two years. Counting out the defending champs with the MVP running the show would be silly, but this will be an uphill battle for a team that's playing some of their worst basketball of the season. They scored a season-low 80 points in that Game 2 defeat, and they need Jamal Murray to play better because a 3-of-18 night won't cut it.
Minnesota leads this series, 2-0. Teams that go up 2-0 win about 93 percent of the series in NBA history, and almost all of those have been the home team.
The Timberwolves (2-0) played Game 2 without Rudy Gobert, but they played one of their best defensive games of the season. They led by nearly 30 points at the half and dominated that road game from start to finish, holding Denver below 35 percent shooting. What was really telling was the way they killed Denver's will, playing some of the best defense we've ever seen. Doing that without the Defensive Player of the Year is telling of how well this team plays together but it's no surprise that they had the best defensive rating during the regular season. It's also good news that the big man is expected to return here, and they're now just two wins away from reaching the Western Conference Finals.
The Nuggets (0-2) looked to be outmatched in Game 2, and it's difficult to see where they go from here. It's rare to see an NBA team look so overwhelmed by another team's physicality, but that was the case for Denver. They were complaining with the officials all night in that Game 2 blowout defeat and were lucky not to pick up multiple technicals. In any case, this series is far from over because the Nuggets have won four of five games many times over the last two years. Counting out the defending champs with the MVP running the show would be silly, but this will be an uphill battle for a team that's playing some of their worst basketball of the season. They scored a season-low 80 points in that Game 2 defeat, and they need Jamal Murray to play better because a 3-of-18 night won't cut it.