Pacers Pain
The Knicks have proven they can defend at an elite level and beat very good teams... They've also shown they are susceptible to letting go of the rope defensively
Final Score: Knicks 134 - Pacers 137
Record: 34-20
Last night, the @Underdog Twitter account posted a photo of The Avengers underneath the caption “The 13-40 Pacers when they see the Knicks on the schedule.”
Yes, Indiana has a horrible record this season, but that’s primarily because injuries have ravaged its roster. When relatively healthy, they can still show shades of the team that advanced to the NBA Finals eight months ago, even on the road as they did late last month, when they beat the Thunder (with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander available) in OKC.
Tuesday night inside MSG, Indiana’s available players reminded Knicks fans just how annoyingly impactful and disruptive they can be. Pascal Siakam (30 points), Andrew Nembhard (24 points and 10 assists) and Aaron Nesmith (phenomenal defense on Brunson) did their best Iron Man, Captain America and Thor impressions.
Players on losing teams still have plenty of pride, and the Pacers stars let it be known that performing on Broadway, inside the Mecca, against a hated rival, brings out the best in them.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Siakam said the Garden “is always a special place” and that “everyone that comes in here, they try to play their best game. This is where it’s at. The eyes are there. Plus, the previous battles we’ve had with this team… It’s a special place.”
Nembhard echoed similar sentiments. “Something about MSG always gives a playoff atmosphere,” said the Pacers point guard. “And we’ve played them a lot in the playoffs, so there’s a certain feeling that comes out, a certain competitiveness that just naturally comes out.”
That’s not to make excuses for the Knicks in a game they most certainly should have won, but the context matters.
In addition, it wasn’t just the Pacers’ main characters who deserved curtain calls. Indiana’s reserves also played key complementary roles, while the Knicks backups flopped in their cameo appearances. The Pacers’ bench outscored New York’s 43-18. Once again, T.J. McConnell earned a “best supporting PG” nomination.
