INDIANAPOLIS — There’s been a standard thread to the Knicks’ current defeats. They’ll’t shut.
It wasn’t imagined to be like that for a top-heavy group with a high-priced and starry beginning lineup.
However for the third time prior to now 4 video games, these starters have been pummeled when it mattered most and the Knicks misplaced Sunday to the Pacers, 132-121.
Protection and rebounding have been the predictable issues down the stretch for the Knicks (4-5), who took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter and have been subsequently outscored, 40-27.
They couldn’t cease a shorthanded Pacers squad as Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin mixed for 73 factors.
Haliburton, who was a giant a part of eliminating the Knicks in final season’s playoffs, had his finest recreation of the season with 35 factors and 14 assists.
Indiana shot almost 70 % within the fourth quarter.
Offensively, the Knicks have been adequate. Jalen Brunson (33 factors, 10 assists), Karl-Anthony Cities (30 factors) and OG Anunoby (25 factors) scored effectively.
However the porous Knicks allowed the Pacers to drop 21 3-pointers — together with eight within the fourth quarter — and solely mustered seven whole themselves.
They misplaced the equation.
“You have to understand the math of the game where somebody is making 20 3s and you’re making 10, it’s going to be hard to win that game,” coach Tom Thibodeau predicted earlier than the sport.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse has been a Home of Horrors for the Knicks.
Their depleted squad misplaced all three of their playoff video games within the constructing final season, together with the bloodbath on Mom’s Day and the game-winning 3-point shocker from Andrew Nembhard.
However the infirmary strains have been swapped Sunday. The Knicks have been comparatively wholesome, minus the duo of Treasured Achiuwa and Cam Payne.
The Pacers, in the meantime, have been lacking three of their prime 7 — Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin. Nesmith, who has given Brunson issues in earlier matchups as an even bigger/stronger defender, is out till “sometime in December” with an ankle damage.
The Pacers additionally entered with a Haliburton subject.
Their All-Star guard’s manufacturing was manner down whereas averaging 14.7 factors on 38 % taking pictures general — together with an abysmal 25 % from past the arc.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle unloaded the justifications earlier than the sport.
“Listen, he’s a great player and he’s going to be fine,” Carlisle stated. “As I’ve been by means of this complete factor a few occasions now, this summer season, regardless that he was on the Olympic group, he didn’t play a lot and he didn’t get to work out a lot as a result of he truly obtained injured when he was there.
“And then he was dealing with another ailment into the fall. Really it’s just he’s playing catch-up in terms of his NBA game conditioning, his rhythm, the fact that our team is significantly different. He’s playing with guys that are different type of players. We’ve got to help him get better looks and more high percentage looks and those type of things.”
However neither the accidents nor Haliburton’s struggles mattered in opposition to the Knicks’ Swiss cheese protection — particularly within the fourth quarter.
