Regardless of their underdog mindset, the Indiana Pacers have thrived in clutch moments this postseason, performing like true champions when the stakes are highest.
Earlier than their 106-100 loss to the Knicks in Recreation 3 of the Jap Convention Finals on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse — the place they squandered a 20-point lead — Rick Carlisle’s squad was an ideal 7-0 in clutch-time video games throughout these playoffs.
“Poor job closing the third quarter,” Carlisle advised reporters after Recreation 3. “And never a ok begin to the fourth quarter. It was an actual back-and-forth sport and [the Knicks] executed down the stretch and we didn’t execute properly sufficient.
The Pacers posted a 24-14 file in clutch-time video games in the course of the 2024-25 common season (63.2%), rating fourth within the NBA behind the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (66.7%), Cleveland Cavaliers (68.4%) and Boston Celtics (68.6%).
In the meantime, the Knicks are 7-4 in clutch-time video games in these playoffs (63.6%) and went 19-12 in such video games in the course of the common season (61.3%), rating fifth within the league behind the Pacers.
Each groups have displayed outstanding resilience in these playoffs. The Knicks are the primary NBA staff to stage three 20-point comeback victories in a single postseason, and the Pacers have but to lose consecutive video games this postseason.
“Give them credit,” Carlisle stated. “We have to do better.”
After shedding Recreation 3 to the Milwaukee Bucks within the first spherical, the Pacers responded with 4 straight wins to get rid of Milwaukee in 5 video games, then took a 2-0 lead over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers within the Jap Convention Semifinals. The Cavaliers dominated Indiana in Recreation 3, however the Pacers rallied to win Video games 4 and 5, securing one other gentleman’s sweep.
“It’s just one game at the end of the day,” Pascal Siakam advised reporters after Recreation 3. “For almost half of the game we played really good defense, we played really good basketball, and the other half we didn’t. So, we just have to go back to that and figure out what went wrong and just go right back at it. It’s one game and on to the next one.”
Current traits by each groups point out the Pacers are poised to take a 3-1 lead over the Knicks in Recreation 4 Tuesday evening in Indianapolis. They’re seeking to transfer to 5-0 coming off a loss in these playoffs.
“You have to focus on the result because [the series] is 2-1and [Game 3] was a game we felt like we were in position to win and didn’t do a good job in the second half,” Tyrese Haliburton advised reporters after Recreation 3. “But it’s always a process. That’s what it always is, where can we get better? Offensively, we feel like we’ve had a great series thus far… And defensively, if you hold a team like that to 106 [points], you should win that game.”
Initially Revealed: Might 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM EDT
