The Knicks‘ hopes of clinching things on the road have been dashed.
It’s all on Game 7.
With a chance to clinch the franchise’s first conference final in 24 years, the Knicks laid an egg in Friday night’s 116-103 Game 6 defeat, getting little from their star point guard as the Pacers maintained their home dominance behind a balanced inside attack.
It set up the do-or-die Game 7 on Sunday afternoon at MSG, the biggest game for the Knicks since Patrick Ewing wore their uniform.
And they’re going to need much better from Jalen Brunson.
The All-Star shot just 11-for-26 after one of the worst first halves of his Knicks career, unable to crack Indiana’s pressure while dropping his inefficient 31 total points.
The Pacers, who now own an 11-game winning streak at home, made it their defensive priorities 1, 2 and 3 to stop Brunson.
When he dribbled in the backcourt, they pestered.
When he dribbled left in the halfcourt, they swarmed. Right? Flooded. In the paint? Double-teaming was automatic, with an option to triple-team.
The scheme worked — especially in the first half — but also Brunson didn’t do himself any favors. He attacked despite the constant pressure, forcing the issue.
