Pacers and Knicks Set for Critical Game 5
The Indiana Pacers take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal-round series. The series is tied, 2-2.
The Pacers (6-4 postseason) took full advantage of home floor in Games 3 and 4 following two frustrating road losses in New York to open the series. Indiana's most recent success was an impressive 121-89 throttling of the Knicks on Sunday. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, adding six rebounds and five assists. T.J. McConnell generated a 15-point, 10-assist double-double that included four rebounds and two steals. Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin generated matching 14-point, two-assist, one-steal efforts, with Siakam adding four rebounds. Myles Turner furnished 13 points, five boards, two assists, three blocks and one steal. Isaiah Jackson supplied 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.
The Pacers come into Tuesday's game without any injuries to report.
The Knicks (6-4 postseason) will need to dust themselves off from that aforementioned Game 4 humbling, with about the only silver lining coming out of that performance being that New York's starters got some unexpected rest after a fatiguing first three games. Alec Burks led the Knicks with 20 points, complementing them with five rebounds and two assists. Jalen Brunson delivered 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Miles McBride registered 16 points, five boards, four assists and one steal.
The Knicks will likely list OG Anunoby (hamstring) as no better than questionable for Tuesday's game. Isaiah Hartenstein (shoulder) is expected to be listed as probable.
Tuesday's game marks the eighth meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Pacers have won four of the first seven games.
The Pacers (6-4 postseason) took full advantage of home floor in Games 3 and 4 following two frustrating road losses in New York to open the series. Indiana's most recent success was an impressive 121-89 throttling of the Knicks on Sunday. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, adding six rebounds and five assists. T.J. McConnell generated a 15-point, 10-assist double-double that included four rebounds and two steals. Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin generated matching 14-point, two-assist, one-steal efforts, with Siakam adding four rebounds. Myles Turner furnished 13 points, five boards, two assists, three blocks and one steal. Isaiah Jackson supplied 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.
The Pacers come into Tuesday's game without any injuries to report.
The Knicks (6-4 postseason) will need to dust themselves off from that aforementioned Game 4 humbling, with about the only silver lining coming out of that performance being that New York's starters got some unexpected rest after a fatiguing first three games. Alec Burks led the Knicks with 20 points, complementing them with five rebounds and two assists. Jalen Brunson delivered 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Miles McBride registered 16 points, five boards, four assists and one steal.
The Knicks will likely list OG Anunoby (hamstring) as no better than questionable for Tuesday's game. Isaiah Hartenstein (shoulder) is expected to be listed as probable.
Tuesday's game marks the eighth meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Pacers have won four of the first seven games.
Nuggets Host T'Wolves in Game 5, Series Tied 2-2
The Denver Nuggets play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at Ball Arena on Tuesday.
This series is tied at 2-2. Only five home teams have ever overcome an 0-2 deficit, but Denver is looking to do that after winning the last two games.
The Timberwolves (2-2) kickstarted the playoffs with six straight wins, grabbing two road wins to start this series. The problem is that they blew homecourt advantage, losing Game 3 and Game 4 at home. The Game 3 defeat was a simple blowout, but the Game 4 loss was a narrow one at home. Blowing a 2-0 lead to the defending champs is terrifying, but this series is far from over. In fact, Minnesota would've probably taken a 2-2 series through four games if you told them that at the beginning of the series. One thing is clear, and it's that Anthony Edwards has taken his game to another level. He had 44 points, five rebounds and five assists in that defeat on Sunday and will do everything possible to win two of these final three games.
The Nuggets (2-2) looked dead when they lost their first two games at home in this series, but they responded just like a champion should. They had a blowout win in Game 3 and then recaptured homecourt with a win on Sunday in Game 4. Nikola Jokic was the player of the game, collecting 35 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. The real hero was Aaron Gordon, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 11-of-12 shooting. This guy has been knocking down every shot he takes in this series, and it's scary since Jokic is playing so well while Jamal Murray is starting to turn things around as well.
These teams have split their eight matchups this season. With that said, Denver has won six of their last nine playoff games over Minnesota.
This series is tied at 2-2. Only five home teams have ever overcome an 0-2 deficit, but Denver is looking to do that after winning the last two games.
The Timberwolves (2-2) kickstarted the playoffs with six straight wins, grabbing two road wins to start this series. The problem is that they blew homecourt advantage, losing Game 3 and Game 4 at home. The Game 3 defeat was a simple blowout, but the Game 4 loss was a narrow one at home. Blowing a 2-0 lead to the defending champs is terrifying, but this series is far from over. In fact, Minnesota would've probably taken a 2-2 series through four games if you told them that at the beginning of the series. One thing is clear, and it's that Anthony Edwards has taken his game to another level. He had 44 points, five rebounds and five assists in that defeat on Sunday and will do everything possible to win two of these final three games.
The Nuggets (2-2) looked dead when they lost their first two games at home in this series, but they responded just like a champion should. They had a blowout win in Game 3 and then recaptured homecourt with a win on Sunday in Game 4. Nikola Jokic was the player of the game, collecting 35 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. The real hero was Aaron Gordon, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 11-of-12 shooting. This guy has been knocking down every shot he takes in this series, and it's scary since Jokic is playing so well while Jamal Murray is starting to turn things around as well.
These teams have split their eight matchups this season. With that said, Denver has won six of their last nine playoff games over Minnesota.