Indiana Pacers crush crippled New York Knicks

The Indiana Pacers equalized the score at 2-2 after crushing the New York Knicks who had four players left behind.

AP PHOTO/MICHAEL CONROY

Indiana Pacers player TJ McConnell (middle/9) throws the ball and passes New York Knicks player Miles McBride (second from the left/2) during the fourth game of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday (12/5/2024) at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse Stadium in Indiana, United States. The Pacers won with a score of 121-89.

INDIANAPOLIS, SUNDAY — Indiana Pacers took advantage of the limping New York Knicks to achieve a landslide victory and even the score in the fourth game of the Conference semifinals East NBA, Sunday (12/5/2024), at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Stadium, Indiana, United States. The Pacers won with a score of 121-89 and made the two tied 2-2.

The victory was achieved by the Pacers without much difficulty as four key players of the Knicks were injured and unable to play. The remaining players were also tired, and thus failed to perform optimally.

The four Knicks players who were absent due to injury are Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mitchell Robinson, and OG Anunoby. Aside from Anunoby, the three players are confirmed to be absent until the end of the season, while Anunoby's condition is still uncertain.

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This game is different from the previous three matches, where it had to wait until the last three minutes to determine the winner. In the fourth game, the Pacers were leading the Knicks by 43 points so that before the fourth quarter, the winner of the game could already be clearly seen.

AP PHOTO/MICHAEL CONROY

Indiana Pacers player Tyrese Haliburton (right/0) carries the ball to score by passing through New York Knicks player Precious Achiuwa (left/5) during the fourth game of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday (12/5/2024) at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse Stadium in Indiana, USA. The Pacers won with a score of 121-89.

The point difference is the largest the Pacers have ever scored in the playoffs. Previously, the Pacers had a 34-point lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in April 2018 and 33 points over the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2000 NBA Finals.

There was no dominant player from the Pacers in that match. Six players scored double-digit points to bring the host team unstoppable progress.

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Tyrese Haliburton scored 20 points and TJ McConnell scored a double double with 15 points and 10 assists to star the game. The Pacers players played effectively to continue scoring points against a weak Knicks defense.

We understand the appeal of the fifth game and we will prepare for it.

"We're doing our job. When playing at home, we have to protect our defense. So, we're doing our job. We understand the importance of the fifth game and we'll prepare ourselves for it," said Haliburton.

AP PHOTO/MICHAEL CONROY

Indiana Pacers player, Obi Toppin (center/1), throws the ball and passes New York Knicks player, Jalen Brunson (right/11), in the fourth game of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, on Sunday (12/5/2024), at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse Stadium in Indiana, USA. Pacers won with a score of 121-89.

The victory in the fourth match has revitalized the spirit of the Pacers players. In the first two matches, the Knicks performed remarkably and the Pacers seemed to have lost hope of advancing to the finals. However, the victory in the third match and continued in the fourth match has made the Pacers players more confident in facing the fifth match and the following matches.

The fifth match will be held at Madison Square Garden, the home of the New York Knicks, on Tuesday (14/5/2024). The winner of that match will have a great chance of grabbing a ticket to the finals. The final match will be played in seven games. The first team to win four games will advance to the finals.

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On the Knicks side, only three players scored double digit points. They are Alec Burks with 20 points, Jalen Brunson with 18 points, and Miles McBridge with 16 points.

"We may indeed be lacking manpower, but that is not a problem at the moment. So there is no shortage. We lost, we lost. That's what happened," said Brunson. (AP)