Down 2-0 after two deflating losses in the World’s Most Famous Arena, the Knicks played even early before flatlining in the second quarter. Nine minutes in, the Pacers had exploded for a 29-9 run to take a 20-point lead just before halftime.
The Knicks chipped away. The lead was down to 13 at halftime, they rallied from a 16-point third quarter deficit to get it down to 8, before entering the final quarter down 80-70. Sources have told me that it sounded like this in the huddle throughout that fourth quarter:
A loss would’ve ended the season, but for the third time this postseason, the Knicks came back from a 20-point deficit and won on the road.