Despite being even more shorthanded than usual due to OG Anunoby's hamstring injury, the Knicks hung with the Pacers all game, and even had a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter. It didn't take long for the Pacers to whittle that down, however, and most of the final frame was a one-possession game.
Coming out of a timeout, the Knicks gave Brunson the ball and he did not wait around. He took one dribble, pump faked, stepped through between Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith and threw up a flailing, off-balance heave as he tried in vain to draw a foul. Neither the shot nor the attempt to deceive the refs was even close to being successful.
"It's a terrible decision and something I need to learn from," Brunson said during his post-game press conference. "I knew the time, I knew everything that was going on, I just made a terrible decision."
The Pacers got the rebound, and Nesmith made two free throws on the other end to ice the game. With the win, the Pacers narrowed the series deficit to 2-1 and got themselves right back in the series.
While Brunson has been spectacular during the playoffs, he just didn't have it in Game 3. The Pacers gave Nesmith the primary defensive assignment in this game, and his length and activity seemed to bother Brunson, who also appeared to tweak his sore foot in the first half.
Though Brunson finished with 26 points, he shot 10-of-26 from the field and had five turnovers. The Knicks will need him back at his best on Sunday for Game 4 as they try to take a 3-1 lead.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0