New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau benched star Karl-Anthony Cities for an prolonged stretch within the fourth quarter of Recreation 2.
Cities checked out of the sport with 9 minutes remaining however solely returned with 2:25 remaining. When heading to the bench, Cities was a minus-24 within the recreation. Backup heart Mitchell Robinson was having a terrific affect on the sport and was a plus-6 in 29 minutes.
The Indiana Pacers went on to defeat the Knicks 114-109 to take a 2-0 sequence lead. Cities completed with 20 factors and 7 rebounds.
“Simply, we bought in a gap, after which the group that was in there gave us an opportunity,” Thibodeau stated. “So we had been simply driving (that lineup). We’re looking for a win.”
Cities was named to the All-NBA Third Crew on Friday, forward of Recreation 2. Earlier within the season, he was named an All-Star for a fifth time. He averaged 24.4 factors and 12.8 rebounds whereas capturing 42 p.c from three.
When requested about being benched, Cities steered clear and targeted on the group.
“It’s robust to lose, anyway,” he stated. “So we simply gotta regroup collectively for the subsequent one.”
Having misplaced each video games at Madison Sq. Backyard, the Knicks at the moment are in serious trouble heading to Indiana.
Recreation 3 is Sunday at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Thibodeau Pressured To Select Between Offense/Protection
Whereas Cities has actually been a optimistic on the offensive aspect of the ball, he has been hunted defensively.
There’s a obvious variety of pick-and-roll actions he’s needed to defend the place he’s both too excessive or too low and giving the Pacers benefits. To Indiana’s credit score, it’s a group that’s so good at figuring out these alternatives and punishing in chilly blooded style.
“We’d like him to be aggressive offensively. We’d like him to be locked in and talk defensively,” Josh Hart stated when requested what the Knicks want from Cities. “That’s all we’d like from him. Want him to speak at a excessive degree.”
Maybe the largest distinction on this sequence defensively is that the Knicks have one participant they’ll hunt in Tyrese Haliburton whereas New York has two. Indiana has additionally been glad to focus on Jalen Brunson at any time when they’ll.
Looking Haliburton is hard as a result of he’s surrounded by 4 plus-defenders always.
Nonetheless, on the finish of the day, the Knicks did lots proper in Recreation 1 earlier than collapsing down the stretch and had an opportunity to tie the sport late in Recreation 2.
It’s not as if New York has appeared utterly out of its depth just like the Minnesota Timberwolves have in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Win Recreation 3 and the momentum adjustments. You possibly can’t win two video games earlier than you win one.
