New York Knicks Suffer Devastating Playoff Loss to Indiana Pacers – Series Tied 2:2

Nothing to win: The Knicks around Jalen Brunson (right) have been beaten hard by the Pacers.

photo alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Since the beginning of March, the New York Knicks have not lost a game by more than eleven points – and they have won most of them. But now the team of the Big Apple suffered one of the highest losses that the traditional franchise has ever received in the postseason in Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers.

The worst playoff loss in franchise history dates back to 1991, when Patrick Ewing’s Knicks suffered against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and lost Game 1 by 41 points. There was now an 89:121 debate against the Pacers.

Even the first quarter was not a good sign of how the evening would go for the guests. The split went 34:14 to Indiana, which shot nearly 61 percent from the field. And the Knicks? After twelve minutes they were a terrible 6/23 from the field (26.1 percent) and couldn’t find their rhythm offensively at all. In the end, this should not change for almost the entire game.

Up to 43 points behind

The Pacers extended their lead to as many as 30 points in the second quarter, and the Knicks showed no resistance even after the break. In the third round the deficit was up to 38 points, in the fourth – when all starters from both teams had long since left work – up to 43 points. The Knicks were indeed in danger with a negative record.

In the end, the point difference was “only” 32 points, so the series against the Pacers is even and goes back to New York with the score at 2:2 . Game 5 will be held at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. Then things will definitely get tighter again.

A little worried about Hartenstein’s shoulder

After all, the Knicks will not want to let this break happen. Previously strong Jalen Brunson struggled on offense (18 points on 6/17 from the field and 0/5 from the three-point line). Alec Burks led the Knicks with 20 points, but over the entire game, New York only hit a weak 33.7 percent of its field goal attempts. Indiana was at 56.8 percent.

German big man Isaiah Hartenstein finished the game with four points and five rebounds. After a hard fall in the second quarter, he held his right shoulder with a grimace on his face, but was able to continue playing. Tyrese Haliburton was the best man in the Pacers game, the point guard had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists – but he was on the floor for only 28 minutes. He was no longer needed that evening.