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 middle 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 collection 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 have 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 taking pictures 42 % from three.
When requested about being benched, Cities steered clear and targeted on the workforce.
“It’s powerful 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 Compelled To Select Between Offense/Protection
Whereas Cities has actually been a optimistic on the offensive facet of the ball, he has been hunted defensively.
There’s a evident 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 vogue.
“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 stage.”
Maybe the largest distinction on this collection defensively is that the Knicks have one participant they’ll hunt in Tyrese Haliburton whereas New York has two. Indiana has additionally been comfortable to focus on Jalen Brunson each time they’ll.
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 loads 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 seemed fully 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.
