Knicks fall into 0-2 gap no NBA crew has ever escaped in convention finals

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The New York Knicks have fallen to a spot that no crew in NBA historical past has ever overcome.

After a historic collapse in Sport 1 of the Japanese Convention Finals to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks let Sport 2 slip via their fingers, in a 114-109 loss.

No NBA crew has ever misplaced the primary two video games at residence and are available again to win a sequence within the convention finals.

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Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots in opposition to New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) within the fourth quarter throughout recreation two of the japanese convention finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Sq. Backyard. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Pictures)

Pascal Siakam scored a playoff career-high 39 factors, and the Pacers beat the New York Knicks 114-109 on Friday night time for a 2-0 lead within the Japanese Convention finals.

"We now have an extended option to go and it’s solely going to get more durable for us," Siakam mentioned.

Myles Turner added 16 factors and Tyrese Haliburton had 14 factors, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who misplaced to the Lakers in 2000 of their solely NBA Finals look.

Siakam completed 15 for 23 from the sector on an evening no person else on the high-scoring Pacers had greater than 5 baskets.

"Particular recreation," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. "Within the first half he was the man that obtained us going and obtained us via some troublesome stretches."

Jalen Brunson had 36 factors and 11 assists for the Knicks, who want a fast turnaround or their first look within the convention finals in 25 years shall be a short one. They defended significantly better after their crushing collapse in a 138-135 overtime loss in Sport 1, however couldn’t discover sufficient scoring to come back again after a nasty begin to the fourth quarter.

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<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1200/675/usatsi_26249002-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="May 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) in the fourth quarter during game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: " width="1200" height="675"/> Could 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball in opposition to Indiana Pacers ahead Obi Toppin (1) within the fourth quarter throughout recreation one of many japanese convention finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Sq. Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: (Brad Penner-Imagn Pictures)

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Cities every had 20 factors and 7 rebounds for the Knicks, however Cities performed simply 28 minutes as coach Tom Thibodeau went longer with backup Mitchell Robinson, a significantly better defender who grabbed 9 rebounds.

"Going into the fourth quarter it’s a tie ballgame. We’ve simply obtained to make higher performs, extra successful performs," Thibodeau mentioned.

It was tied at 81 after three, earlier than the Pacers opened the fourth with a 13-4 run to maneuver forward 94-85 on Siakam’s 3-pointer with 9:17 remaining. They might rapidly push the margin again to round there each time the Knicks obtained any momentum, and it was 110-100 after one other basket by Siakam with 2:45 to play.

The Knicks scored 9 straight to make it 110-109 on Josh Hart’s basket with 14 seconds to go. Aaron Nesmith made two free throws for the Pacers, Brunson was properly off on a 3-point try and Turner completed it out with two free throws.

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New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball in opposition to Indiana Pacers ahead Aaron Nesmith (23) within the fourth quarter throughout recreation two of the japanese convention finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Sq. Backyard. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Pictures)

The fiftieth playoff assembly between the rivals — the Pacers lead 28-22, all since 1993 — extra carefully resembled their defensive battles of the Nineteen Nineties than the shootout of two nights earlier.

Indiana raced to a 19-9 lead, however the Knicks rapidly caught them when Robinson and Deuce McBride entered and the sport remained inside a single-digit margin practically the whole remainder of the night time.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital. He beforehand labored for ESPN and Enterprise Insider. Jackson has coated the Tremendous Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.