Turner’s 23 Points Not Enough In Game 1 Loss
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Samori Benjamin
The Indiana Pacers blew an opportunity to put the New York Knicks in a hole that they have never gotten out of in their playoff history. The Knicks have never won a playoff series after losing Game One of the series at home. Indiana began the fourth quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with an 87-82 lead over the Knicks. But they could not seal the deal. They were outscored 39-30 in the final period.
Indiana point guard Tyrese Haliburton who was named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter over Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson this season, and named to this summer’s Team USA Olympics roster over Brunson, scored just six points on only six shots and eight assists. Brunson finished the contest with 43 points.
Indiana made it out of the Eastern Conference earlier in the season in the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. Haliburton played like a star in leading them there and this Pacers team is one round away from proving that what happened in November and December was not a fluke. “Obviously frustrating, you know playing ahead in Game One, and feel like we should have won that game but at the end of the day it starts with me and I’ll be better in Game Two.” Said Haliburton after the game. Game 2 is Wednesday night in New York before the series moves to Indiana for games 3 and 4.
