New York Knicks lose to the Indiana Pacers 130-121, go down 1-3 in the ECF: A disappointing effort

The New York Knicks failed to keep up their intensity from Game 3, losing to the Indiana Pacers 130-121. The Knicks dug an early hole and never got out of it.

The Knicks started the game with lackadaisical defense, allowing Indiana to beat them in transition repeatedly. New York couldn’t stop fast breaks off their own made baskets, let alone their misses. Indiana raced to a fast rhythm and only slowed down during a second-quarter Knicks run. 

The Knicks managed to make it to halftime down five points off the strength of that second-quarter defense. However, they failed to sustain that energy as Indiana took off again in the third quarter. New York’s offense looked strained unless they were drawing fouls. The Pacers out-physicaled the Knicks just as much as they outran them. 

The disappointing effort leaves New York on the cusp of elimination. Let’s vent some and look for places to be hopeful through the players’ performances.