This time, there was no letdown. The Knicks couldn’t find solace in yet another fourth-quarter error. The Pacers seem to have their number, especially at Madison Square Garden.
Maybe this venue makes it even more poignant.
Now, the Pacers head back home with a solid grip on these Eastern Conference Finals. This time, there wasn’t a need for a miracle comeback or any odd bounces; they played consistently for the full 48 minutes. They managed the pace, handled the matchups effectively, and defended their lead more decisively than the Knicks did just two nights prior.
The final score stood at 114-109 in favor of the Pacers. In the fourth quarter, the score was 33-28, again favoring the Pacers. Throughout the earlier playoff rounds, the Knicks had excelled in the fourth quarter, dismantling the Pistons and giving the Celtics a tough time. But not this time. Not in this series.
