Indiana is not dead! Faced with the Knicks who believed in a 3-0 potential after leading by 8 points at the start of the fourth quarter, it was the Pacers who snatched this Game 3, to say the least, disputed, with Andrew Nembhard as the hero of the evening to come to the aid of the Haliburton-Siakam-Turner trio at the best moment.
With their backs against the wall, the Pacers had managed to take the match from the right end, and ignite the room with aggressiveness on defense, and 3-point arrows from Aaron Nesmith and Tyrese Haliburton twice on offense ( 14-4). New York quickly recovered and Donte DiVincenzo erased all the work of the locals with two 3-point baskets (24-20). There was then an 11-4 to start the second quarter (33-31) then a remarkable passage from Alec Burks, author of a 2+1 and the 3-point which briefly put his team in the lead ( 46-49).
Tyrese Haliburton quickly regained control, chaining together a floater, a coast-to-coast and a 3-pointer to conclude a 9-0 (55-49), then leaving Pascal Siakam to ensure until half-time with a lay-up, two shots and a mid-range shot in the last second (63-58).
The Knicks, however, were able to absorb the blows without flinching and will continue after returning from the locker room by conceding an 8-0 marked by Tyrese Haliburton's 3-pointer (77-66), before once again finding the resources to come back, and go ahead this time. First there was a 14-4 fueled by two “Curry-esque” 3-pointers from Donte DiVincenzo (80-81), then a new burst of brilliance from behind on a 2+1 to pass the Knicks in the lead and then turned to +5 following two baskets snatched by Josh Hart 12 minutes from time (85-90).
Crazy money time
New York was able to maintain the momentum in his favor thanks to the inevitable Donte DiVincenzo, a 3-pointer from the parking lot, then on a service for the 3-pointer from Miles McBride (89-98). But Indiana gave all its last strength in the battle with Tyrese Haliburton in his turn untenable, bringing his team back almost single-handedly on three baskets in a row, before Pascal Siakam equalized at 99-99, in his turn thanks to a 2+1.
As expected, the money-time was as rough as could be, and it was Indiana who emerged victorious from this tough battle. It took decisive points from Pascal Siakam, a monumental chasedown block from Myles Turner on Josh Hart at 102-102, and the composure of the hero of the evening, Andrew Nembhard, author of the 3-pointer to win at 106-106 with 17 seconds remaining to respond to Jalen Brunson, and guide his team to a final victory 111-106 after two final shots from Aaron Nesmith.
The Pacers did not come far from disaster and now find themselves with the possibility of equalizing this Sunday for their second game at home.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Andrew Nembhard as savior. It was very, very close for the Pacers to achieve their first success in the series, and no one knows what would have happened to Indiana if Andrew Nembhard had not scored this 3-pointer from nowhere leaves at the possession buzzer with 17 seconds remaining. In difficulty for three quarters (0/5 shooting), the guard held on to score two decisive baskets in the “money-time”, making him the unexpected hero of this Game 3.
– The red-headed Stephen Curry. Donte DiVincenzo was the one who got his team going by planting two 3-point baskets in quick succession at the end of the first quarter. He then maintained his confidence level to gain momentum after the break and score 3-point baskets worthy of Stephen Curry. Author of a remarkable 7/11 from 3-point range, he was the unfortunate hero of this Game 3, shattering in the process his record for points in the playoffs (35), which dated from the previous match (28).
– End of series for Josh Hart. The Knicks' Ironman had not yet been out since the start of the series, playing the entirety of the first two games at the Garden. This is now done since he only played 43 minutes in Game 3. Josh Hart did not save himself, however, standing out once again for his enormous appetite for rebounding with 18 catches, his new career record in the playoffs.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
