Knicks-Pacers: Haliburton returns single digits in 111-94 defeat

The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 111-94 in Game 5 to cap off their second NBA title defense in franchise history.

Tyrese Haliburton recorded single digits everywhere in a historic triple-double.

When the Pacers try again at home on Saturday, the team will need Haliburton to be much closer to the player who dominated Game 4 than the one who only managed two baskets in Game 5. Following that passive performance from their playmaker on Thursday night.

Haliburton remarked, “It’s a rough night for me.”

In Game 4, Haliburton scored 32 points, 15 rebounds, and no turnovers for the first 30-15-10 postseason since 1977-78 when turnovers were first identified as a result.

But on Thursday, he only had eight points, six assists, and two rebounds. The Pacers had just two more points in the first half, but the All-NBA point guard had no basket in the first half.

“I need to be better setting the tone and going downhill. Although I don’t think I did a good job of that, Haliburton said. “Some of their defensive strategies were different, but for the most part, they had the same fundamentals.” As the game progressed, they tried to apply more pressure and increased the pressure. However, in Game 6, I must be better and will be better.

Some of the errors that Haliburton and the Pacers made in Game 4 were eliminated, which allowed the Knicks to start their transition game. And they rarely let him enter the lane to create opportunities for himself or his teammates, making him much sharper in the halfcourt.

According to Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, “I thought our guys were tied together and trying to make him work for everything,” but he probably missed some shots that he normally makes.

The Pacers shot just 40.5% from the field, which was their postseason low point total. Aaron Nesmith went just 1 for 8 on the same court where he had a postseason career-high 30 points, causing Indiana to come back in Game 1. Aliburton was not the only one who struggled.

Pascal Siakam, who set a postseason career high of 39 in Game 2, was the only one in double figures for Indiana.

Haliburton remarked, “We weren’t great as a group.”