The Indiana Pacers are just one win away from their first trip to the NBA Finals in 24 years, and they’re doing it by dominating the New York Knicks on offense. With a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers’ high-powered attack has outscored the Knicks by 47 points in transition, averaging 26.5 points per game.
Pascal Siakam’s defensive struggles against Karl-Anthony Towns have also been exposed, allowing Towns to score efficiently despite Turner’s strong defense. The Knicks may not get a chance to see a larger sample size if they don’t improve their contesting of the Pacers in transition on Thursday.
The Pacers’ ability to attack Mitchell Brunson has proven successful, scoring 1.20 points per chance when he’s been the screener’s defender on ball screens. However, Towns is doing significant damage against Myles Turner, particularly from beyond the arc, with a true shooting percentage of 66.8% in the playoff series.
With Robinson less effective as a starter than he was coming off the bench, the Knicks may revert to their traditional starting lineup in Game 5, likely resulting in more Towns and Turner matchups. If the former can continue to score efficiently, the Knicks will have a chance to extend the series.
Source: https://www.nba.com/news/pacers-knicks-numbers-to-know-for-game-5