NEW YORK — Tyrese Haliburton adopted his historic triple-double by getting held to single digits in every little thing.
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With a passive efficiency from their playmaker, the Indiana Pacers failed of their first try to earn the second NBA Finals journey in franchise historical past, falling 111-94 to the New York Knicks in Recreation 5 on Thursday evening.
They are going to want Haliburton to be a lot nearer to the participant who dominated Recreation 4 than the one who managed solely two baskets in Recreation 5 once they attempt once more at residence Saturday.
“Rough night for me,” Haliburton mentioned.
Haliburton had 32 factors, 15 assists, 12 rebounds and no turnovers in Recreation 4, the primary 30-15-10 within the postseason since turnovers have been first tracked in 1977-78.
However he was restricted to eight factors, six assists and two rebounds Thursday. The All-NBA level guard did not also have a basket within the first half, when the Pacers’ complete of 45 factors was simply two greater than the had within the first quarter of Recreation 4.
“I’ve got to be better setting the tone, getting downhill. I feel like I didn’t do a great job of that but I’ll watch the film,” Haliburton said. “There were some different things they did defensively, but for the most part their base stuff was the same. They picked up the pressure a little bit more, try to apply more as the game went on. But I’ve got to be better and I will be better in Game 6.”
The Knicks minimize down on a number of the errors they made in Recreation 4 that allowed Haliburton and the Pacers to get their transition recreation going. And so they have been a lot sharper within the halfcourt, not often letting him penetrate into the lane to arrange alternatives for himself of his teammates.
“It’s probably a combination of him missing some shots he normally makes, but I thought our guys were tied together and trying to make him work for everything and that’s what you have to do,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned.
The Pacers have been held to their lowest level complete of the postseason and shot simply 40.5% from the sector. Haliburton wasn’t the one one who struggled, with Aaron Nesmith going simply 1 for 8 on the identical court docket he had a postseason career-high 30 factors to spark Indiana’s comeback in Recreation 1.
Pascal Siakam, who had his postseason profession excessive of 39 in Recreation 2, was restricted to fifteen — and that made him the one Indiana starter in double figures.
“We weren’t great as a group,” Haliburton mentioned.
“We turned the ball over too much, didn’t rebound to our ability we have shown this series. When you do those two things against these guys in a game that comes down to so many possessions, it’s tough. So, we’ve got to be better as a group. I think our pace has to be better and that starts with me. I’ve got to be better there. ”
NBA: /nba