The New York Knicks attempted to stage a dramatic comeback in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals but ultimately fell short against the Indiana Pacers. Down by ten points with under three minutes remaining, Jalen Brunson led a furious rally to trim the deficit to one in the final 20 seconds. However, Brunson’s missed three-pointer with eight seconds left sealed the Knicks’ fate, resulting in a 114-109 loss at Madison Square Garden. With the loss, the Knicks now trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series as the action shifts to Indiana for Game 3.
Defensive Breakdowns and Open Threes Doom Knicks in Another Painful Playoff Loss
Postgame, the Knicks were united in their assessment that poor defense was their undoing. Josh Hart highlighted the team’s struggles to maintain focus through multiple phases of Indiana’s offensive sets, emphasizing the importance of executing consistently on every defensive action. Hart acknowledged that repeated blown coverages, especially late in the shot clock, critically hurt the Knicks during their attempted comeback. He stressed the urgency of addressing these mistakes with the series heading to Indiana, a notoriously difficult venue for visiting teams.
Knicks Fall Short in Game 2 Comeback as Defensive Lapses Push Pacers to 2-0 Series LeadIndiana’s Pascal Siakam delivered a dominant performance, scoring 39 points on just 23 shots. The Pacers also thrived from beyond the arc, hitting 13 of 30 three-point attempts. A major factor in their success was the Knicks’ inability to contain shooters, especially when sending help defense against Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell. These double-teams often left someone wide open, leading to easy three-point looks that Indiana capitalized on, particularly during a decisive early fourth-quarter run.
Lineup Changes Loom as Knicks Face Critical Game 3 with Season on Line
The Knicks’ starting five continued to underperform, being outscored once again in Game 2, raising questions about potential lineup changes. Coach Tom Thibodeau expressed willingness to explore adjustments ahead of Game 3. Mitchell Robinson gave New York quality minutes early, but appeared hobbled after a key block on Haliburton, possibly compromising his late-game effectiveness. With the Pacers finding success against Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive matchups, Thibodeau faces tough decisions on how to balance offense and defense moving forward.
With a 2-0 series deficit, the Knicks enter a critical juncture in their playoff run. Brunson, who led the team with 36 points, emphasized that mental focus and full commitment are non-negotiable at this stage of the postseason. He acknowledged that while strategy matters, sheer effort and concentration must now be the priority. If the Knicks hope to avoid a daunting 3-0 hole, they will need a collective rise in intensity and execution, especially on the defensive end, when they take the floor in Indiana on Sunday night.
