NBA Matchups: May 23

Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks

Team Totals: Pacers 110.3, Knicks 116.8

Injury Report: Isaiah Jackson (O, Achilles)

Pacers projected starters: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner

Knicks projected starters: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns

Offensive Ranks: Pacers 10th, Knicks 5th
Defensive Ranks: Pacers 13th, Knicks 12th 

Regular Season Series: 2-1 Knicks

Noteworthy Missed Games: Myles Turner (1 missed), Andrew Nembhard (1), Obi Toppin (1), OG Anunoby (1)  

Carlisle quotes: Said this is Day 1 of 13 days, said both teams still have a lot to clean up, said Nesmith went off because Ben Sheppard gave them key minutes to get Nesmith rested, said the environment didn’t disappoint in MSG, said Haliburton has “earned the right to do whatever he wants” with the choking celebration.

Thibs quotes: Said they cannot let their guard down against a Pacers team that can really score, said they have to turn disappointment into determination, said they were giving Nesmith too much air space, said the turnovers were costly and the Pacers converted those chances.

Stats and notes:

*What the hell happened on Wednesday night? The Knicks became the first team to be up by 14+ with 2:45 left in the fourth quarter of a playoff game and lose (teams were 994-0 in this instance since 1997). They were also the first team to be up by nine-plus points in the final minute and lose (teams were 1,414-0 before this since 1998), and this is the third time this postseason the Pacers won a game when they were down seven-plus points in the final minute of the fourth or OT. The story of the game would’ve been how the Knicks went on this huge run after Jalen Brunson got his fifth foul in the fourth, but then Aaron Nesmith happened with 14 points in the final 2:45 of regulation on a 71.4 USG% (17 points in the final 3:30, 60.0 USG%). The Pacers had a 257.1 O rating in that time with a 123.2 pace. Just insane. Before that nightmare stretch for the Knicks, the game was theirs with a 135.2 O rating, 119.3 D rating, they were crushing on the boards (57.8 TRB%), they kept the pace in check at 93.55 (92.6 in the Hali minutes), they only turned it over 10 times (Pacers only five), and they won the paint points 54-40. The Knicks had held the Pacers to 0-of-6 on corner 3-pointers until that point and kept the rim scoring way down as well. Additionally, the Pacers could not miss to start the game, going 9-of-9 from the field in the first 5:30. That means the Knicks had a +24.9 net rating from 6:30 left in the first until 2:45 left in the fourth (+21). What the fuck?