Portnoy Critiques Knicks After Loss to Pacers

Dave Portnoy had some choice words for the Knicks following their difficult defeat to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals in New York on Friday night.

A die-hard Celtics fan, Portnoy couldn’t resist poking fun at the Knicks, who had recently sent the defending champions home after eliminating them in the semi-finals just a week earlier.

“It’s still a great season for the Knicks,” Portnoy shared on social media after their loss, with the Pacers securing a 2-0 lead in the series by winning 114-109.

He reflected on the team’s earlier victory against a struggling Pistons squad in the first round, sharing that it ignited excitement in the city for a few weeks. He described the season as one of the best in franchise history and full of memorable moments.

Portnoy also brought attention to a meme featuring Pacers point guard Tyrese Halliburton mimicking Reggie Miller’s iconic choke gesture after Indiana won Game 1 in a close finish of 138-135.

In that game, Halliburton made a critical shot to tie things up at the last moment, while the Pacers managed to outlast the Knicks in overtime. The two-time All-Star contributed 14 points alongside 11 assists and eight rebounds in Game 2.

Pascal Siakam from the Pacers was the standout player that night, scoring a playoff career-high of 39 points.

Portnoy commented on the series’ high stakes, suggesting that if the Knicks were to lose, Halliburton’s choke gesture would epitomize their season, once again making them the subject of jokes.

The Eastern Conference Finals will continue with Games 3 and 4 taking place in Indianapolis on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, at Gainbridge Field House.