The Indiana Pacers surrendered a furious 14-0 rally in the fourth quarter but came back strong, securing a wild 138-135 come-from-behind win and stealing a 1-0 series lead against the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 22.
New York Knicks Top Performers:
Karl Anthony-Towns 35 PTS | 12 REB | 1 BLK | 57.4 FPS
KAT started strong, going 3-for-3 from three to open the game after previously struggling from three against Boston. He also played a key role in the team’s 17-2 run in the fourth quarter. However, the team couldn’t hold on to their lead and suffered a major collapse—the first in NBA history by a team leading by 14 or more points in the final 2:45 of a game, ending a 994-0 record. Despite the loss, Towns recorded his second 30-point game of the playoffs and has posted double-digit rebounds in eight of his last nine games.
Jalen Brunson 43 PTS | 1 REB | 5 AST | 44.7 FPS
Brunson finished with at least 40 points and 5 assists for the second time this postseason and the seventh time in his playoff career. He could have done even more, but foul trouble in the fourth quarter limited his impact. His seven turnovers were also a major downside. Despite that, he continues to lead all remaining players in total points this postseason and is expected to keep producing with the Knicks not having many offensive options.
Mikal Bridges 16 PTS | 6 REB | 5 AST | 36.7 FPS
Bridges had a good scoring performance but his strongest impact comes from his versatility. He’s a do-it-all player, including grabbing 4 offensive rebounds today while maintaining quality production in defense in 10 of 13 playoff games. He’s also certainly capable of much stronger offensive performances if he rediscovers his three-point shooting.
Josh Hart 8 PTS | 13 REB | 7 AST | 36.1 FPS
Hart didn’t score much today, but he stayed impactful with his secondary categories, averaging 9 assists in his last two games and recording his sixth game in the playoffs with double-digit rebounds. He’s also capable of putting up big numbers on offense, highlighted by two 20-point performances against Boston.
Mitchell Robinson 8 REB | 1 STL | 1 BLK| 19.1 FPS
Robinson is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league and is averaging close to 5 offensive rebounds in his last five games. The Knicks have a major advantage in rebounding in this matchup, having a +7 edge today, and the team should continue to rely on him to take advantage of it.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Tyrese Haliburton 31 PTS | 4 REB | 11 AST | 53.3 FPS
Haliburton delivered just his second 30-point performance of the postseason, with the other coming in the previous game against the Cavaliers. While he typically doesn’t take on a major scoring role, he has been extremely productive lately, shooting 6-for-10 from three-point range in the last game and attempting 23 shots today while making 50% of them. He also recorded his sixth double-digit assist game of the playoffs and currently ranks second in the league in that area.
Aaron Nesmith 30 PTS | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 41.4 FPS
Nesmith erupted in the fourth quarter, knocking down a flurry of three-pointers to score 20 points in the period alone, finishing with a near-flawless 8-for-9 shooting performance. He played a key role in helping his team rally from a deficit of as much as 17 points. Nesmith now leads the league in three-point percentage at 53.8% and ranks third in total three-pointers made. While it’s unlikely he’ll sustain this level of offensive output, he should continue to be a crucial asset in the series, especially as the primary defender on Brunson.
Pascal Siakam 17 PTS | 5 REB | 6 AST | 38.0 FPS
Siakam has been very productive on offense, shooting at 40% or better while having double-digit attempts in ten of his eleven playoff games. He’s also scored at least 17 points in five of his last six. However, his production remains far from his best, and he should take on a larger role in offense for them to clinch the series.
Myles Turner 14 PTS | 5 REB | 1 BLK | 28.0 FPS
Turner was off to a great start, going a perfect 5-for-5 in the first quarter, though he shot 1-for-6 the rest of the game. Despite his inconsistency in offense and rebounding, he should remain a valuable contributor in the series with his two-way game.
Obi Toppin 8 PTS | 10 REB | 1 STL | 23.0 FPS
Toppin has provided solid numbers for his position, though it’s not his best role. He’s more capable on the offensive side, however, his perimeter shooting has been off in the postseason, going just 1-for-13 over his last four games. If he can find his rhythm on offense, then he’ll be a valuable asset in this series.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
OG Anunoby 16 PTS | 3 STL | 3 BLK
OG has been one of the best two-way players in the league this season, but his offense has been highly erratic in the playoffs. He’s had six 20-point games and four games where he scored in single digits. His inconsistency continued today, including missing a crucial free throw with the game on the line. Despite that, he remained impactful on defense, recording his fifth game with at least four stocks.
