basketball
NBA: New York Knicks fall to Indiana Pacers
Isaiah Hartenstein (r) from the New York Knicks moves to the basket against Pascal Siakam from the Indiana Pacers. photo
© Michael Conroy/AP/dpa
Excitement in the second round of the NBA playoffs: Both the Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets have evened their series after four games.
The New York Knicks are in the second round of the professional basketball league playoffs NBA suffered a bitter defeat and thus suffered a 2-2 draw in the best-of-seven series. Isaiah Hartenstein’s team lost 89:121 away against the Indiana Pacers.
From the start, the Knicks, who seemed tired, couldn’t get into the game at all and were already behind 14:34 after the first quarter. At the beginning of the fourth quarter the deficit was as high as 43 points – it would have been the franchise’s worst defeat in its playoff history. For New York, who only managed a hit rate of 33 percent from the field, Hartenstein, who fell on his shoulder in the second quarter, recorded four points and five assists in just under 21 minutes.
Indiana’s most productive player was Tyrese Haliburton with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in just 27 minutes. The series continues with game five in New York on Wednesday night (CEST). Four wins are necessary to advance.
Denver equalizes 2-2 against Minnesota
Meanwhile, the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, also won their second road game in a row, leveling the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 2-2. The Nuggets ultimately won 115-107 thanks to a 37:16 run in the first half.
Denver could not only rely on MVP Nikola Jokic, who scored 35 points, 16 of them in the fourth quarter alone, but also on Aaron Gordon. The 28-year-old hit an outstanding eleven of his twelve attempts from the field (27 points) and also had seven rebounds and six assists.
On the Timberwolves’ side, a furious Anthony Edwards set his franchise’s playoff record with 44 points. With two important away wins behind them, the Nuggets will welcome the Timberwolves back to Denver on Wednesday night (CEST).