Pacers Smell Blood After Stunner in Game 1: Knicks at the Brink Already? | Deadspin.com

The Indiana Pacers have the New York Knicks proper the place they would like them.

Now comes a crucial second within the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

The Pacers can kick the Knicks whilst they’re down and take a 2-0 collection lead at the highway. They may just go back to Indianapolis with an opportunity to comb the collection in entrance of a raucous crowd that may do the whole lot it could possibly to spice up the Pacers and hassle the Knicks.

Or the Pacers can fall quick in Game 2 and make allowance the Knicks to even the collection at 1-all. That would let New York catch its breath and regroup after a fantastic Game 1, wherein the Knicks squandered a 14-point lead within the ultimate 3 mins of legislation.

Indiana can’t come up with the money for to try this. The time is now to snatch regulate of the collection.

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is aware of how excessive the stakes will probably be when the groups tip off at Madison Square Garden on Friday night time.

“That’s a hell of a win,” Haliburton mentioned after Game 1. “But I really do think there’s a lot for us to improve on. I don’t know what the final rebound number was, I felt like they dominated us there. That’s an area where we want to be great. We weren’t good (in Game 1). But we just figured out a way to win. I’m so proud of this group.”

Haliburton is correct in regards to the Pacers’ rebounding.

Indiana will want to do a greater task at the glass after you have outrebounded 46-39 on Wednesday night time. The Knicks additionally completed with a 62-50 edge in issues within the paint.

None of the Pacers’ starters completed with greater than 5 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Knicks’ Josh Hart had 13 rebounds, Karl-Anthony Towns had 12, and Mikal Bridges completed with six.

You don’t should be James Naismith to keep in mind that extra rebounds can result in extra scoring alternatives — and extra high-percentage photographs, particularly. New York confirmed how really helpful that benefit used to be because it constructed a 119-105 lead with 2:51 to move.

The Pacers had to hit a barrage of adverse photographs to erase the deficit. They did precisely that on Monday in entrance of a surprised Knicks crowd.

Aaron Nesmith hit 4 3-pointers within the ultimate 2:04 of legislation to provide the Pacers an opportunity. If this had been the previous NBA Jam online game, his sneakers would have stuck on fireplace. It gave the look of Nesmith may have tired photographs from the 300 stage if he sought after.

Then got here the overall shot of legislation. Haliburton drove towards the paint, crossed the free-throw line and gave the look of he would opt for a game-tying layup.

Then, to nearly everybody’s wonder, Haliburton reversed direction and dribbled again towards the 3-point line. He let free a shot on the buzzer that bounced excessive off the again rim and went instantly up.

The ball stayed aloft for a second, however it felt like 10 mins.

Finally, the ball dropped instantly throughout the web. Haliburton idea he had gained the sport, and he paid homage to Reggie Miller by means of flashing the choke signal to the gang.

A video evaluate confirmed that Haliburton’s toe used to be at the 3-point line, which supposed his shot tied the ranking at 125-all and compelled extra time as an alternative of finishing the sport.

No subject.

The Pacers saved making buckets in extra time to safe the win. Instead of wanting wild 3-pointers, Indiana edged forward within the further consultation because of a couple of using layups by means of Haliburton and Nesmith, blended with a couple of overdue dunks by means of Obi Toppin.

Easy buckets — just like the dunks Toppin equipped — may just be offering a trail for the Pacers to grasp a 2-0 collection lead on Friday night time.

The drive is at the Knicks presently. The Pacers wish to stay it that manner.