INDIANAPOLIS — After the Indiana Pacers blew a 20-point first-half lead — and probability for a 3-0 benefit within the Jap Convention finals — with their 106-100 loss to the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday evening, All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton blamed himself for his staff’s struggles on offense within the second half.
“Simply attempting to get guys in the proper positions,” Haliburton mentioned when requested why he particularly, and Indiana total, slowed down from their normal up-tempo fashion within the second half. “I believe down the stretch, a sport like this comes down to at least one or two possessions, so simply attempting to execute the proper manner, get guys in the proper spots. However yeah, it is undoubtedly an space the place I do know once I watch movie, I’ll kick myself for it.
“I am already occupied with it, kicking myself for it … I believe that is simply a part of it and I received to be higher there. Truthfully, I believe lots of our offensive struggles within the second half have been as a result of me, so I received to be higher there and I will likely be higher in Recreation 4.”
Haliburton’s particular person line was respectable — 20 factors, 7 assists and three steals in 37 minutes — however the high-octane Pacers, who got here into this sport as the one staff in these playoffs capturing 50% total from the ground and 40% from 3-point vary, shot 44% total, went 5-for-25 from 3-point vary and scored solely 42 factors within the second half.
The truth is, Indiana’s 20 factors within the fourth quarter was the identical quantity that Knicks star Karl-Anthony Cities had by himself in that ultimate quarter.
That is why when Haliburton, ahead Pascal Siakam and coach Rick Carlisle every spoke individually after the sport, they got here again to the identical theme: that Indiana let a golden alternative slip by way of its fingers by getting away from what makes the Pacers who they’re.
“We received to remain enjoying our manner,” mentioned Siakam, who adopted up his sensational 39-point outburst in Recreation 2 with 17 factors on this one however was a team-worst -21, “and we simply did not.”
This is not the primary time in these playoffs the Pacers did not benefit from being up 2-0 in a collection having gained each video games on the street. It was the identical scenario the Pacers discovered themselves in in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers within the Jap Convention semifinals. In that Recreation 3, Indiana was blown out by Cleveland, solely to bounce again and win Video games 4 and 5 to advance to the convention finals for a second consecutive season.
This time round, it was Indiana that appeared like it will be the staff doing the blowing out, when the Pacers raced out to that 20-point lead and the Knicks watched Jalen Brunson decide up 4 fouls within the first half and Cities decide up three.
However issues started to show halfway by way of the third, when Pacers ahead Aaron Nesmith sprained his proper ankle and needed to go away the sport. Indiana led by 13 on the time, and by the point Nesmith checked again in within the fourth, the Knicks had gone on a 32-18 run over an 11-minute stretch to surge again into the lead.
“Yeah, it is actually an element,” Carlisle mentioned of Nesmith’s damage. “He went again to the coaching room, received it checked out, imagine he received it re-taped. He was doing issues within the hallway to get transferring once more. After which I received the phrase that he was good to return in, that he was transferring with out limitation at that cut-off date. And so fairly than wait, the most effective factor to do is get him again in there in order that he did not stiffen up anymore. After which, , down the stretch he appeared to maneuver okay to me simply from the attention check standing there, however I have never studied the movie but and clearly we’ll know extra tomorrow.”
Nesmith walked by way of the locker room after the sport below his personal energy, however with a noticeable limp.
And whereas this sport was a painful one for the Pacers to let slip away, they nonetheless maintain a 2-1 lead within the collection. And when these groups reconvene Tuesday evening for Recreation 4, Haliburton mentioned we’ll see a special mentality from Indiana.
“We really feel like offensively, we have had a fantastic collection to date,” Haliburton mentioned. “I’d say that was our first actual like dangerous half offensively, so we received to be higher there. After which defensively, you maintain a staff like that to 106, that is — you must win that sport. So we gotta, I imply, 100 factors is not us, ? So kudos to them, they did a very good job, however there’s undoubtedly areas that we are able to enhance on.
“We’ll have a fantastic movie session [Monday]. Guys will watch movie on their very own tonight and tomorrow, and see the place we are able to get higher. There’s at some point in between video games, so it’s what it’s. You watch movie, then you definately simply flush it and prepare for Recreation 4.”
