Los Knicks suffered a major stick when they fell to the Pacers (138-135) In the first encounter of the East Final (0-1), after suffering in their flesh One of the most incredible (and humiliating for them) in NBA's history.
Indiana reached Final section of the last quarter with 17 disadvantage points (111-94, at 6:22 for the end)but a Aaron Nesmith stratospheric (20 of its 30 points in that act) It led them to force the extension with five almost consecutive triplesand in extra time, with Andrew Nembhard In stellar plan, they certified the Knicks catastrophe.
The collapsed of the New York was one of those who have been, And it could have been more cruel before the extension, since the Pacers, who lost 14 to 3 minutes from the end and 7 to 40 seconds of the conclusionthey had the last kick of the regulatory time to sentence, but The Triple Haliburton pump on the hornwhich in principle seemed three points, It was given as a basket of two When appreciating the referees in the repetition that the line slightly stepped on.
Nesmith and Nemhart, Milagro heroes
Haliburton With 31 points (4/12 T3), 4 rebounds and 11 assists was another day the brain of his team, but Indiana's heroes were undoubtedly Aaron Nesmithwhich ended 30 points (20 in the last quarter) and 8/9 triples, five of them decisive to force the extension, and Andrew Nembhardcrucial in the extra time in which he scored 7 of his 15 points.
This was the game of Aaron Nesmith, the hero of the historic comeback of the Pacers in New York
Both were The surprise factor against some Knicks that fell with the entire team in the final stretch of the game neutralizing the game of the stars of New York: Jalen Brunsonauthor of 43 points (14/19, 1/6 T3 and 12/14 TL) and Karl Anthony-Townswhich signed 35 (7/9 T2, 4/8 T3 and 9/10 TL), 12 rebounds and 2 assists. Paradoxically Both failed one triple each in the last possession of extra time to have forced a second extension. Total drama in New York and miracle of the Pacers.
Image in which it is seen that Haliburton stepped on the line in the shot with which he forced the extension.
He Start of the game was vertiginousespecially by the Pacers, who flew over Madison's parquet with supersonic attacks commanded by Turner, Neismith y Nembhard con Haliburton At the controls.
Brutal Effectiveness of Pacers
Its brutal effectiveness (They started with 9/9 field shots) allowed them to take the initiative (20-27, a 4:34). But the Knicks reacted with the Towns Diesel engine (9) and Brunson (8) heating despite the 7/7 T2 and 2/3 T3 of Indiana in the first quarter (36-34), that erraron 11 shots in a row
Brunson tries to overcome Nesmith's defense with the Towns blocking.
The Knicks came out more intoned in the second, They squeezed the nuts in defense and clouded the attack of the Pacersthat they had started well (41-45), but 11 shots failed in a row and fit a partial of 13-1 In just four minutes made by Towns, Payne and Bridges (54-46, a 5:51).
Brunson holds the Knicks
Indiana went from 9/9 initial field shots to 9/24but recovered his pulse with a 6-13 partial led by Nesmith y Haliburton (60-59, a 2:08), although the final stretch of the first part was given again the Knicks with a 9-3 with 7 Puntas de Brunson.
Karl-Anthony Towns protests a personal lack of referees.
The base (18+1+3), Towns (15+5+2) y Bridges (12+4+2) allowed their team to give another arreón (69-62), while Haliburton (14+3+6), Turner (12+3) y Nesmith (10 points without failure) supported Indiana until THE REST (69-62)to which both teams arrived with almost nailed percentages (25/49 TC by 23/45 TC).
The defenses are imposed on attacks
Sicam, Turner y Halibutoton They put the counterpoint to the onslaught of Brunson y Towns In resumption (80-78, a 4:30). Thibodeau and Carlisle gave rest to their brains, Brunson y Haliburtonand then they were Towns For New York and Siakam y McConnell For Indiana those who threw from their teams until the end of a third quarter in which the defenses imposed themselves on the attacks (90-87).
In the last act the Knicks kept the front Thanks to 4 points of the omnipresent Brunson (94-91), Just before Thibodeau sat to give him a break. And it was with his star on the bench when the New York were going to give the arreón that seemed definitive with A 14-0 partial (108-92, at 7:22) with 7 points of Anunoby and 6 of Towns To on track the triumph.
The Pacers, against the strings
Indiana ran out of gas and without success in this decisive section, scoring only 5 points (18-5) in the first 4:38 minutes of the last quarter with a poor 2/12 TC. And the Knicks, more successful (7/11 TC in that same period) seemed to fasten the triumph with A Triple of Towns that put the maximum on the scoreboard (111-94, at 6:22).
But that was not what happened, because then The figure of a breakdown Aaron Nesmith emerged that with five almost consecutive tripleslast 14.3 seconds from the end, He resurrected his team ashes (123-121). Towns later scored only one free kick (124-121) and his own Nesmith Yes, he put the two that had (124-123, a 12,4). Anunoby He could ensure the victory at 7.3, but only one scored (125-123) And on the last play Haliburton He scored the three line to send the game to the extension (125-125).
In extra time The Knicks tightened through Towns and Anunoby (129-125)but a surprising Nembhard He put the Pacers ahead. Brunson y Haliburton They brought equality to the end (135-134)but Nembhardthe man of the extension heart Ahead to Indiana at 26.7 seconds and forced an out of band anticipating his own Brunson before Toppinreleased in the next play, sentenced with a mate at 15.3. Because in the last play Brunson first and Towns Then, two triples failed to tie certifying the Knicks cataclysm.
