NBA Eastern Conference G2 Preview: Pacers Impact Away 2-0 Knicks Will Keep an Eye on Nesmith?

At 8 a.m. Beijing time on May 24, the NBA Eastern Conference Finals continued, and the Knicks played the Pacers again at home to start the second game of the series. In the first game, the Pacers narrowly defeated the Knicks 138-135 in overtime and led 1-0 in the overall score. In the Eastern Conference G2, did Brunson lead the team to a 1-1 draw, or did Haliburton extend the lead to 2-0? G1's Wonder Soldier Nesmith is expected to be heavily defended by the Knicks.

Haliburton is sure that Knicks fans will see him as a "villain" for the rest of his NBA career. After the key equalizing goal that dragged the game into overtime in the Eastern Conference G1, Haliburton made Miller's "choke-neck gesture", and in the end, the Pacers won overtime and completed a 17-point comeback.

"We're not going to get too excited about that," Pacers coach Carlisle said, "and we have things to improve, and so do they." The second one will be another tough one. ”

The first fight was at least a high-intensity tug-of-war, especially in the final stages. Brunson's three-pointer gave the Knicks a 119-105 lead with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter. But instead of surrendering, the Pacers took over the game.

Nesmith was on hot hand, shooting 8-of-9 from three-point range, including his sixth three-pointer of the fourth quarter to cut Indiana's deficit to 121-123 with 22 seconds left in the game. "I didn't realize what I was doing," Nesmith said, "and it was the highlight of my career." ”

In the final seconds, the Pacers closed the deficit to two points again. Haliburton then rushed to the edge of the three-point line and threw a high-arc jumper that bounced off the basket and fell into the net at the final whistle. Haliburton made a "choke" gesture to the Knicks' bench and spectators — much like Miller did with the Knicks in the 1994 playoffs — and the Pacers players celebrated wildly. But the referee ruled that Haliburton's foot was on the three-point line, and the goal was changed to two points, and the game went into overtime.

"Somebody wanted me to do it last year, but it had to be at the right time," Haliburton said of the Pacers' 4-3 win over the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season. I may have wasted this gesture. ”

Brunson scored 43 points and Towns scored 35 points, and the two combined for 26-of-42 shooting (61.9 percent) in the first game, but still couldn't seal a victory. 'We had a lot of things that we did well and put ourselves in a position to have a chance to win,' Downs said, "and we played 46 minutes of good play and then lost the last two minutes of regulation time, and the responsibility is on all of us. ”

Hart could really feel the momentum slipping away. "Defensively, we let our guard down, the intensity and the physicality weren't in place," Hart said, "On the offensive end, we slowed down, we played dead, and it looked like we were 'winning the game' rather than 'fighting for the win.'" ”

Game 2 was a "must win" battle for the Knicks, as they didn't want to fall 2-0 down when the series moved to Indianapolis.

"The series has just begun," Anunoby said, "and it's just one game, we're going to watch the footage, learn from it and move on." ”

The video analysis will certainly focus on how to limit Nesmith, whose 30 points tied his NBA scoring record and his eight three-pointers set a new career high. His previous record of seven three-pointers in a single regular season game was set on December 31, 2023, against the same Knicks.

"Once he makes his first three, you have to be very vigilant," Brunson said.

List of injuries and illnesses

Pacers: Isaiah Jackson is out

Knicks: All players are available

ESPN Predicted Win Rate:Pacers 51.3%, Knicks 48.7%