4 loss to tie Knicks streak, shamed by Pacers in lackluster game

NBA

By Stephen Bondy

INDIANAPOLIS — The Knicks quickly absorbed a knockdown blow and never got up.

Tom Thibodeau's team was a disaster in the opening quarter, a sloppy, foul-mouthed mess before the Pacers rolled to a 121-89 Mother's Day massacre to tie the East semifinal series at 2-2.

Jalen Brunson once again wallowed in inefficiency with just 18 points on 6-for-17 shooting against Aaron Nesmith and the Pacers' hunting/disciplined defense.

Point Guard and his team were tired of working.

Their short roster and heavy opening minutes finally caught up with the Knicks, who have a day to recover before Tuesday's swing game.

This will be their biggest match of the season.

And the latest injury update suggests OG will be without Anunoby, who according to Thibodeau has yet to start running because of his hamstring strain.

Without Anunoby on Sunday, the Knicks were off the ropes by tip-off as Tyrese Halliburton went for 20 points in 27 minutes.

Thibodeau, reluctant to pull his starters in blowouts, raised a white flag in the third quarter by inserting Shaq Milton and Daquan Jeffries.

Iron Man Josh Hart clocked just 24 minutes.

Like the rest of the starters, he looked tired.

Their jump shots were short, especially Brunson, who left Game 2 with a sore leg.

Knicks went 7-for-37 on 3-pointers. The 'Noah trio combined to go 1-for-13 from deep.

And the first quarter set the tone.

The Knicks trailed by 23 after 10 ½ minutes amid poor shooting and Halliburton getting hot.

Some plays were inexplicably slow for a normally disciplined team.

At one point, Jericho Sims, the Knicks' worst ball-handler, was left to bring up the ruck under the Pacers' press.

turnover.

Ninety seconds later, Hart threw an inbounds pass to no one in particular.

turnover.

But the biggest problem is Branson.

He couldn't make his normal split and was probably still bothered by that sore foot, even though he wasn't listed on the injury report. Brunson shot 0-for-5 in the opening quarter, and the Knicks never recovered.