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The New York Knicks fell into a place that no team in the history of the NBA has never overcome.
After a historic collapse in match 1 of the final of the Eastern Conference in the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks let the match 2 go through their fingers, in a defeat of 114-109.
No NBA team has never lost the first two home games and returns to win a series in the conference final.
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The Indiana Pacers Tyrese Haliburton (0) goalkeeper shoots the New York Knicks goalkeeper Jalen Brunson (11) in the fourth quarter in the second game of the Eastern Conference final for the NBA 2025 qualifiers at Madison Square Garden. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn images)
Pascal Siakam marked a career summit in the playoffs, a career summit in the playoffs, and the Pacers beat the New York 114-109 Knicks Friday evening for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final.
“We have a long way to go and it will only become more difficult for us,” said Siakam.
Myles Turner added 16 points and Tyrese Haliburton collected 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who lost against the Lakers in 2000 during their only appearance in the NBA final.
Siakam finished 15 for 23 on the ground during one night, no one else on the high score pacers had no more than five baskets.
“Special game,” said Pacers Rick Carlisle coach. “In the first half, it was the guy who made us move forward and made us pass difficult stretches.”
Jalen Brunson collected 36 points and 11 assists for the Knicks, who need a quick turnaround or their first appearance in the final of the conference in 25 years will be brief. They defended much better after their overwhelming collapse A loss of 138-135 in overtime In match 1, but I couldn’t find enough scores to return after a bad start to the fourth quarter.
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May 21, 2025; New York, New York, United States; The New York Knicks goalkeeper Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against the pacers attacker Indiana Obi Toppin (1) in the fourth quarter in the first match of the Eastern Conference finals for the NBA 2025 qualifiers at Madison Square Garden. Compulsory credit: (Images of Brad Penner-Imagn)
Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each collected 20 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, but the cities only played 28 minutes while coach Tom Thibodeau went longer with the replacement Mitchell Robinson, a much better defender who caught nine rebounds.
“Upon entering the fourth quarter, it’s a stake ball game. We just have to make better games, more winning games,” said Thibodeau.
It was equal to 81 after three, before the Pacers open the fourth with a sequence of 13-4 to move forward 94-85 on the 3-point Siakam pointer with 9:17 to play. They would quickly repel the margin every time the Knicks took momentum, and it was 110-100 after another basket of Siakam with 2:45 to play.
The Knicks scored nine consecutive games to reach 110-109 on the Josh Hart basket with 14 seconds to do. Aaron Nesmith made two free throws for the Pacers, Brunson was well broken on a 3 -point attempt and Turner ended him with two free throws.
The New York Knicks goalkeeper Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against the Indiana Pacers striker Aaron Nesmith (23) in the fourth quarter in the second game of the Eastern Conference final for the NBA 2025 qualifiers at Madison Square Garden. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn images)
The 50th meeting of the playoffs between the rivals – the Pacers have led 28-22, all since 1993 – looked more like their defensive battles from the 1990s than the two -night shooting earlier.
Indiana ran to an advance of 19-9, but the Knicks quickly caught them when Robinson and Deuce McBride entered and the game remained in a margin with a figure almost all the rest of the night.
