Knicks frustrated when the defense put her in the 2-0 hole

New York – A game after the New York Knicks gave a historic playoff lead three minutes before the loss, they had the chance to make magic on their own Friday.

Jalen Brunson and his team only declined to the Indiana Pacers less than three minutes before playing from the Indiana Pacers.

But in the end there wasn't enough magic for the Knicks. Brunson fell badly with eight seconds before the end with 3, 3 seconds, and the Knicks slipped around 114-109 in the Madison Square Garden to fall into the final of the Eastern Conference.

The series will go to Indiana for Game 3 on Sunday evening.

Despite the angry comeback, Brunson and Knicks spent most of the interviews after the game about how their focus on defense.

“Obviously, they do a really good job to move the ball and force them into mistakes, and we have to be defensive sounds to protect the first action, the second action, but also the third action,” said Knicks Wing Josh Hart. “We are 0: 2 below and now we are going to a difficult place for the game-indiana as well.

Hart said that the team's defensive collapse late in the game were particularly expensive because they took place while the Knicks tried to climb their comeback.

“In the playoffs, many games are determined by one or two possessions,” he said. “Two games in a row, we [made those mistakes]. We have to find out. “

The Knicks had no response to Indiana's Pascal Siakam, who exploded 39 points with only 23 shot attempts, and they also had trouble defending the 3 pointer, with the Pacers 13 of 30 attempts (43%).

The Pacers were particularly effective for the second game in a row when Karl-Anthony Towns defended. They shot 50% from the outside (9: 18), when the cities were on the square, compared to 33.3% (4-to-12) when it was out.

For the series, Indiana shoots almost 48% (21-von 44) from the depths of cities and only 30% (7- against-23) with it on the bench. The cities took a longer place on the bench when New York was triggered out of the game on Friday evening.

Apparently, when the Knicks got the pressure by sending a second defender in Tyrese Haliburton or TJ McConnell, Indiana had it paid by opening someone on the back. And these looks were often triple, especially to start the fourth period. The game was tied after three, but three minutes after the fourth of the fourth, the Pacers were nine.

“The rotations weren't there [defensively]And we have to do more to help each other, “said Brunson, who had 36 points with a team height.

The start of five from Knicks also fought for the second game in a row and were exceeded with 13 points after they were 16 years old in game 1. In total in the post -season, the Knicks starters were exceeded with 50 points, which were only removed from an NBA final lying area for a club.

After the opportunity to change the start, coach Tom Thibodeau said that he would see every opportunity to find a way to win in Indiana for game 3.

The Backup Center Mitchell Robinson, a much nimble defender than cities on the circumference, gave the Knick's big minutes earlier. After an average of 20 minutes per game in this post -season, Robinson played 2 16 minutes in the first half in game.

But Robinson looked like he had no steam after his massive block of a Haliburton's attempt to shot with almost eight minutes. Robinson came awkward on the play and seemed to optimize his ankle. He ended with 6 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks in 29 minutes.

Regardless of what used in game 3 Thibodeau, the Knicks know that they have to do their best so as not to fall into a 3-0 hole.

When Brunson defended the Pacers and the question of whether it requires more mental sharpness from the Knicks, this should be the case, but that none of it should play a role now.

“I think yes. But we're in the conference final,” he said. “Nothing else is important at the moment. We have a game every other day. We play in a high moment. The mental focus all-muss is there. There is no question about it at this point.”