The New York Knicks came away with a crucial 106-100 win in Game 3 of the ECF. With some important contributions from their bench helping them erase a 20-point deficit in the second half, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton had to acknowledge how crucial their performance was. While speaking with the media after the game, he said:
"All four of the guys that played off the bench are defensive guys, and they come in and wreak havoc. I thought we just didn't do a good job of continuing to play fast. I feel like I did a poor job of keeping pace in the game. Especially in the fourth there. I felt like I was walking the ball up every play."
"I know it's a big area of improvement for me," added Haliburton. "Just got to do a better job of keeping pace in the game. Obviously, a 42-point half isn't us. We'll see what we can do better there and improve on it.
The Knicks triggered a massive turnaround after a rather disappointing first half. After entering the third quarter facing a 45-58 deficit, New York systematically chipped away at Indiana's lead while tightening up the screws defensively.
The Knicks made an interesting lineup change by bringing Mitchell Robinson into the starting rotation. Although Robinson himself didn't have much of an impact, the move to send Josh Hart to the bench had a massive impact later in the game.
Hart's defensive ability and hustle has been a key element in almost every Knicks win. Game 3 was no exception. The forward put every ounce of effort out on the floor on Sunday to help his team secure the win.
Additional contributions by bench players such as Miles McBride and Delon Wright left Indiana shellshocked in the final frame. Pairing this with an offensive masterclass by Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks found themselves in a position to put the game away behind some finishing touches by Jalen Brunson.
Rick Carlisle Gives Props To Tom Thibodeau's Knicks
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle had to give props to his opponent, Tom Thibodeau, after the Knicks stole a win in Game 3. While discussing the game with the media at the postgame press conference, Carlisle credited Thibodeau for making the right adjustments coming into the second half. He said:
"They had a lot of their better defenders in the game in the second half. That makes it harder. You've got to grind defensively to get rebounds, and there's a different element of grinding when you're going against their better guys."
"We're going to have to do better in a lot of those situations," he added. "There were times when we got good shots and simply didn't hit 'em. That's all part of this."
Thibodeau has historically worked his starters to the bone, and Sunday night was no exception. Although surprisingly going into a nine-man rotation, the Knicks team saw five players logging over 30 minutes of game time.
This proved to be necessary considering how close the game was. The Knicks' star duo also came in clutch in the final moments to seal the victory.
The ECF series heats up as the Knicks manage to avoid a sweep. While a 2-1 deficit will still see them in a patch of trouble, New York will aim to capitalize on this momentum with another win on the road on Tuesday at 8:00 pm ET.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us onGoogle News. We appreciate your support.