Knicks’ Late Mistakes Cost Them in Overtime
In a series of late-game blunders during the fourth quarter, the Knicks faltered, most notably by neglecting to foul Obi Toppin in the closing moments of overtime.
With just 20 seconds remaining and the Pacers holding a one-point lead, the Knicks allowed Toppin to drive in for a dunk, effectively pushing the game to a three-point deficit for New York.
“I believe we should have fouled him,” Jalen Branson mentioned, reflecting on their missed opportunity. “But we didn’t.” Coach Tom Thibodeau echoed this sentiment, alongside Josh Hart, stating that the intention was indeed to foul Toppin, but the Knicks failed to execute that plan.
In a game where the Knicks had once led by 17 points in the fourth quarter, they ultimately fell to the Pacers with a final score of 138-135 in the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night. Branson and Karl-Anthony Towns both missed crucial three-point shots that could have changed the outcome.
Former Knicks player Obi Toppin made a significant impact, scoring four of the eight overtime points and finishing with 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes, contributing positively to his team with a plus-nine rating.
Following Up on the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
In another exchange, Warriors Forward Draymond Green participated in TNT’s pre- and post-game coverage this past Wednesday.
Earlier, Green had missed a game, mentioning his anxiety over facing Jimmy Butler and expressing that he was unaware of the local community’s mourning for friends and family lost.
When questioned about resolving tensions in the area, Green had a conversation with a reporter that was quite revealing.
Regarding the coaching match-up, Indiana’s Rick Carlisle and Thibodeau share a longstanding friendship, tracing back to their early days in basketball.
Recalling their connection, Carlisle shared, “At the end of my playing career, I was trying for the Timberwolves during their formative years. Thibodeau was one of Bill Musselman’s assistants, and I remember meeting him back then. He had a remarkable influence as both an assistant and head coach over the years.”
