Have the Knicks hit the wall? Pacers crush New York in Mother's Day Massacre, tie up series
The Pacers led by as many as 43 points. It was never close. And now the Knicks have to find a second wind -- if they've got one.
They’ve got the Knicks there they want them, running them into the ground, the Knicks’ lack of depth after numerous injuries revealing itself in Game 4’s Mother’s Day Massacre at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The final score was 121-89 and it wasn’t even that close. By the second half, the ABC announcing crew of Mike Breen, J.J. Redick and Doris Burke were filling time by talking about their favorite baseball players (who thought Bud Harrelson would be mentioned during the Eastern Conference semifinal Game 4?)
Do the Pacers, who tied the series at two games apiece Sunday afternoon, have the Knicks on the ropes?
They do.
And it was just a matter of time. You’re probably tired of hearing/reading it, but the Knicks are missing Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby, four of their top seven rotation players, and poor Jalen Brunson looked Sunday like he lacked energy and lift. The vast majority of his shots, most of them challenged by Aaron Nesmith, hit the front of the rim. If the Pacers go on to win this series, and that’s the call here (in 7), Rick Carlisle’s pre-Game 3 decision to put the longer, stronger Nesmith on Brunson in place of Andrew Nembhard will be viewed as a masterstroke.
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