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 sport. Backup heart Mitchell Robinson was having a terrific impression 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 acquired in a gap, after which the group that was in there gave us an opportunity,” Thibodeau stated. “So we had been simply using (that lineup). We’re looking for a win.”
Cities was named to the All-NBA Third Group 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 taking pictures 42 p.c from three.
When requested about being benched, Cities steered clear and targeted on the workforce.
“It’s robust to lose, anyway,” he stated. “So we simply gotta regroup collectively for the following one.”
Having misplaced each video games at Madison Sq. Backyard, the Knicks are actually 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 definitely been a constructive on the offensive aspect of the ball, he has been hunted defensively.
There’s a obtrusive 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 workforce that’s so good at figuring out these alternatives and punishing in chilly blooded trend.
“We want him to be aggressive offensively. We want 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 most important distinction on this sequence defensively is that the Knicks have one participant they will hunt in Tyrese Haliburton whereas New York has two. Indiana has additionally been blissful to focus on Jalen Brunson each time they will.
Searching 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 quite a bit 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 towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Win Recreation 3 and the momentum modifications. You may’t win two video games earlier than you win one.
