The Knicks turned it over, the Pacers ran.
The Knicks missed, the Pacers ran.
The Knicks scored … the Pacers still ran.
“Inexcusable,” TNT analyst and longtime NBA coach Stan Van Gundy said after the Knicks let Obi Toppin score on an unconstested layup in the fourth quarter following a made basket by New York.
It is clear Indiana coach Rick Carlisle got the message across that pushing the pace was important in Game 6.
The Pacers were flying up the court throughout Game 6 in a 125-108 victory that ended the Knicks season.
“The one thing that bothered me for the Knicks,” Charles Barkley said at halftime. “They gave up four layups after made baskets. You can’t do that ever. You should never get a layup after a scoring basket.”
Indiana outscored the Knicks 25-10 on fastbreak points in the deciding game after the team was held under 100 points for the first time in the postseason in Game 5.
The Knicks were down 58-54 at half but ran out of gas in the second half as the high-octane Pacers relentlessly pushed the game up and down the floor.
The Knicks were limited throughout the series by the defensive struggles of their two biggest stars — Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.