On Sunday Indiana Pacers defeated New York Knicks by 121-89 as they level the semi-final series by 2-2. With help of Tyrese Haliburton scored 20 points, T.J. McConnell added 15 points and 10 assists, and the Indiana Pacers cruised to their second-biggest playoff victory ever.
Indiana Pacers dominated from tip to end, with Haliburton contributing six rebounds, five assists, and four 3-pointers. When they defeated Cleveland by 34 points in April 2018, they were just one point away from their most lopsided playoff victory.
The Knicks had only three players in double figures. Alec Burks finished with 20, Jalen Brunson with 18 his lowest total in this tournament — and Deuce McBride with 16 on a day when they shot 33.7% from the field, 18.9% from three, and faced the greatest deficit of any team in this postseason.
And, unsurprisingly, the Pacers benefited from the enthusiasm of a nearly packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where they are now 5-0, with Game 6 heading to Indianapolis on Friday. Among those in attendance were Indiana-born artist John Mellencamp, Indianapolis 500 champions Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti, as well as former Pacers stars Dale Davis and Derrick McKey.
Big players missed the match for New York Knicks
It was New York Knicks' fourth-largest margin of defeat in the postseason, following losses to the Bulls by 41 in 1991, the 76ers by 40 in 1978, and the Pistons by 35 in 1990. They watched the most dominating performance in a series that had been tight for the previous three games. In this year's postseason, New York had its lowest-scoring quarter (14) and half (41) while leading only once, 2-0, for 44 seconds.
The Knicks appeared exhausted in a quick turnaround from Game 3 to the afternoon start, missing four crucial players due to injuries: forwards OG Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Julius Randle, as well as centre Mitchell Robinson.
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