Who is the X-factor for Pacers-Knicks Eastern Conference Finals?
The Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the Pacers could be tight. Here are players who think they can break through the series and tilt it.
NEW YORK – Tyrese Halliburton scored 31 points, recorded 11 assists, made a stepback jumper to play the game, forced overtime, and Aaron Nesmith scored 30 points on eight three-pointers to get a 138-135 overtime victory in the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden.
Game 2 is on Friday in New York (8pm, TNT).
Andrew Nembhard scored seven overtime points and finished with 15. Pascalciacam scored 17 points, while center Miles Turner scored 14 points. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 43 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 35.
Here are three observations:
Andrew Nembhard Keys Pacers in Overtime
Andrew Nembhard struggled with foul trouble with just eight points on three of six shootings in the regulations, but as he tends to do, he worked overtime and stepped up, helping him score a 17-point game in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks scored their first four points in overtime, but Nenbird hit a three-pointer, then hit two more buckets, finding Obitoppin for a key dunk in the final minute, deflecting the ball from Jaren Branson with 20 seconds left. He scored seven of the Pacers’ 13 overtime points in the fourth quarter to ensure their wild comeback was in vain.
Aaron Nesmith 3S, Tyreese Halliburton’s Stepback Force OT
The Pacers appeared to have finished when the Knicks allowed them to go for a 14-0 run while Branson was on the bench early in the fourth quarter with five fouls. They were 17 points behind in the fourth, but as all hope seemed lost, Nesmith went wild past the 3-point arc and brought the Pacers back to it.
The Knicks went 113-98 at 4:55, and Nesmith went when he hit the first person with six straight 3 pointers. They remained on the ball with 3 seconds down on the ball and 13 seconds left when Knicks OG Anunoby fouled Nesmith and when he was able to get off the 3-pointer to score after he was fouled. Nesmith made both free throws. Anunoby was fouled for his subsequent possessions, but made only one of two. The Knicks stopped the Pacers’ first advance, but Halliburton hit a gradual jumper and got an incredible bounce, somehow getting in. However, it was determined that Halliburton’s feet were on the 3-point line and that the shot tied the score rather than winning the game with the buzzer, forcing him to work overtime.
Pacers do not show early rust
If there were eight days of questions where the Pacer spent the rhythm between games, they answered it at the first 5:30 in the first quarter. They made nine straight shots on that stretch to start the game, creating 11 of their first 12 field goals, taking a 27-20 lead at 4:45. They chilled some during the period, but not much. I finished 14 out of 19 from the floor and posted 3 out of 3 out of 3, 3 out of 4, 3 out of 4, and 1.49 points in the first period.
The Pacers did not separate during the period as the Knicks scored 36 points and shot 15 of 23 from the floor and 4 of 3-6 at 1.59 points per ownership. However, the two teams spent most of the rest of Game 1 on shots, and Pacer took a vacation, which was not an issue. After already winning last year’s second round series here, they are not threatened by Madison Square Garden.
