Pacers suffer defeat against Knicks but remain calm
The Indiana Pacers had their worst offensive performance of the postseason in Thursday night’s loss to the New York Knicks, with a score of 111-94. Despite missing the opportunity to close out the series, star point guard Tyrese Haliburton emphasized that there is no need to panic.
We are a resilient group. We always want to respond when things don’t go well after a game like that. We understand what the stakes are. We’re fine. There’s no need to panic or anything.
Tyrese Haliburton
The Pacers still lead the series 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Indiana never led in Game 5, as New York secured a wire-to-wire victory with their season on the line. The Pacers’ offense never took off. Their starting five combined for only 37 points, the second-lowest by a team in a game this postseason, and as a team, the Pacers had 20 turnovers, their most in a game during these playoffs.
Thursday’s loss also marked the first time this postseason that the Pacers were held to under 100 points.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points off the bench, and Pascal Siakam led the starters in scoring with 15. Obi Toppin, who had 11 points off the bench, was the only other Pacers player in double figures.To start the game, we simply didn’t have the right level of force, the right level of attitude needed in this environment. It was a bad start; we never had the upper hand in the game. There were a multitude of things that went wrong. There were moments in the game where we gained a bit of traction, but never enough.
Rick Carlisle, Pacers coach
After logging a historic stat line in Game 4, Haliburton struggled to get involved offensively on Thursday night, scoring eight points on 2-of-7 shooting and six assists. His seven shot attempts were the fewest in any game this postseason, and he scored or assisted on 24% (23 of 94) of the Pacers’ points. In Games 1-4, Haliburton scored or assisted on 41% of his team’s points.
I have to get better, and I will in Game 6. We have to get better as a group. Our pace has to be better. That starts with me. I have to improve there. As a group, we’ve shown we can have some success in these playoffs. This was a tough performance for us tonight. So we’ll watch the film, see where we can improve, and be great.
Tyrese Haliburton
The Pacers acknowledge that the Knicks established themselves as the more aggressive team in Game 5, but they have prided themselves on responding after losses this postseason. Forward Aaron Nesmith didn’t mince words when asked how the Pacers regain their intensity for Game 6.
You get punched in the face like this. Sometimes you have to lose to get better. That’s what happened today.
Aaron Nesmith
Knowing they were returning home with a 3-2 series lead was a big reason the Pacers weren’t discouraged despite Thursday’s loss. Indiana hasn’t lost consecutive games since March, and Siakam said he was eager to have the chance to bounce back at home.
You’re going to have bad games. This is the NBA, and there will be times when a team will play hard. In fact, they’re going to beat you.
Pascal Siakam
It’s just about us, man. It’s always been us against the world, and I don’t expect that to change. We’re 3-2 in a series and we have a chance to go home and show what we’re made of.
