The Knicks struggled to muster any offense in a hideous game in Indiana as they lost 82-71 to the Pacers, falling behind 2-1 in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Pacers looked bad. Unfortunately, the Knicks looked worse as they wasted an opportunity to take control of the series on a night when the Pacers scored just 82 points.
It was a long night for the Knicks, who were behind all game. Tyson Chandler (nine points, five boards) was absolutely dominated by Roy Hibbert who had 24 points and 12 boards, eight of which were offensive. Melo started 6-9 but missed his last seven shots and finished with just 21 points as Paul George locked him up down the stretch. As a team, the Knicks shot just 35% from the field and managed to find space to shoot only eleven threes, making just three of them. They were also out rebounded by a 53-40 margin. Fourteen turnovers didn't help either.
The Knicks got just six points from their three-headed point guard monster of Felton, Kidd and Prigioni, with Felton scoring all six in his worst game of the playoffs. And it wasn't just the Knicks players who struggled: as the offense battled unsuccessfully for points against the stout Pacer D and JR Smith battled through a fever (4-12, nine points), coach Mike Woodson didn't adjust in any meaningful way or look to offensive players Steve Novak and Chris Copeland off the bench. The loss spoiled the return of Amar'e Stoudemire, who scored seven points in nine minutes, highlighted by a three at the buzzer to end the third quarter.
The Knicks will look to even the series at two games apiece in Indiana on Tuesday night.
