Knicks’ forward Karl-Anthony Towns overpowered Indiana Pacers the fourth of Game 4 of their playoff … More
The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers will continue what has become a most compelling and confounding playoff series with Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Let the chaos continue.
The Knicks in all likelihood saved their season with a 106-100 victory over the Pacers on the road in Game 3, when they recovered from a 20-point first-half deficit to trim the Pacers’ series edge to two games to one.
“It’s a true test when you’re down 20-plus,” Knicks hero Karl-Anthony Towns said.
No team in NBA history has won a playoff series after losing the first three, and the Knicks are attempting to become the first team in league history to lose the first two games at home and win a finals series.
New York’s comeback victory in Game 3 was simply more of the same in this series, which features teams that took out No. 1 seed Boston and No. 2 seed Cleveland in the semifinals.
The road team has won each of the first three games, all games that each team could legitimately say they could have won. Stars have taken turns.
The Pacers overcame a 17-point deficit in a 138-135 overtime victory Game 1, when they trailed by eight with 41.1 seconds before rallying behind a flurry of 3-pointers from Aaron Nesmith.
Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam have helped the Pacers to a 2-1 series edge. (Photo by Jason … More
The Knicks trailed by 20 in the first half of their Game 3 win before Towns scored 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.
In a series of adjustments, Game 4 could provide more. Three things to look for.
How Will the Knicks Use Their Bench?
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau got 24 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and physical defense from his reserves in Game 3, by far their best production of the series. Part of that had to do with a lineup change and part with foul trouble.
Center Mitchell Robison replaced small forward Josh Hart in the starting lineup, giving the Knicks a bigger frontcourt presence and more significantly giving Towns favorable matchups on the offensive end.
Knicks’ coach Tom Thibodeau went to his bench and it paid off in Game 3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin … More
Leading scorer Jalen Brunson got in foul trouble early and played only 31 minutes, eight minutes under his playoff average, while finishing with 23 points on 6 of 18 shooting.
Towns also played with five fouls late, but Thibodeau rode with him down the stretch as the Pacers had no answer for him on the defensive end, either from distance or on drives to the hoop.
Can the Pacers Find Their Half-Court Offense?
Indiana is built to push the ball, which can lead to quick shots and offensive spurts. Nesmith had 30 points in Game 1 and made eight 3-pointers. Pascal Siakam had 39 points in the Pacers’ 114-109 Game 2 victory, the only relatively normal game in the series.
But the Pacers stalled in the second half Sunday, when they could only match Towns in the fourth quarter by scoring 20.
Nesmith’s loss to a right ankle injury midway through the third quarter seemed pivotal, not necessarily for his offensive production but for his toughness and his ability to shadow Brunson.
The Pacers were 5 of 18 from the field in the fourth quarter, 1 of 8 from three-point range, and did not have much of an offensive rhythm when the Knicks had defenders Mikel Bridges, Josh Hart and OJ Anunoby on the floor. Many of their shots were forced attempts late in the shot clock.
They made a season-low 5 of 25 from distance, and when those shots did not drop they struggled.
Tyrese Haliburton, who has 65 points in the series, became the third player in the last 60 years to reach 455 points, 216 assists and 127 rebounds in 25 career playoff games, according to OPTA Sports. Magic Johnson and Chris Paul are the other two.
But he is 9 of 30 from distance, and the Pacers need more. Nesmith returned late in the fourth quarter but was limping noticeably afterward. He will be a game-time decision for Game 4.
Will Home Court Finally Matter?
Danny Ainge once said that he liked playing on the road because it was a good way to shut the home fans up. The Knicks and Pacers have had their fingers on the mute button all playoffs long.
The Knicks recovered from 20-point deficits in Games 1 and 2 of their semifinal series against Boston, winning both games on the road.
They have won each of their last four road games despite trailing in the fourth quarter of each, the longest streak by any NBA team in the postseason in the last 20 years.
The Pacers have three road wins in which they have trailed by 15 points in this postseason, making them the second team in the last 20 years to do that. The 2011 Dallas Mavericks are then other.
They will have to wait for Game 5 in Madison Square Garden on Thursday to see if the that applies.
