May 23, 2025
Indiana Pacers guard
Tyrese Haliburton had a 14-point, 11-assist double-double in Friday's playoff win over the Knicks. The 25-year-old was the hero in Game 1. However, he wasn't as productive in this one. Haliburton also had trouble finding the bottom of the net, going 3-for-10 from downtown. He at least made up for it by securing eight rebounds, his second-highest mark of the postseason. With Indiana stealing Games 1 and 2 on the road, both teams will head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 on Sunday. Haliburton averaged 25.5 points, 11.0 assists, and 3.5 boards in two games versus the Knicks in Indiana during the regular season.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
May 23, 2025
New York Knicks center
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points in Friday's loss to Indiana. KAT had 35 points in Game 1. However, he cooled off in this one, sinking only 42.9% of his attempts from the field. Towns also had issues on the glass, pulling down seven boards, his fewest since Game 2 of the Conference quarterfinals versus the Detroit Pistons. The Knicks dropped both games at home to begin the series, so the team will look to pick up a win on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Towns thrived in two appearances in Indiana during the regular season, averaging 35.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 38.5% shooting from downtown.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
May 23, 2025
New York Knicks guard
Jalen Brunson had a team-high 36 points in Friday's postseason loss to the Pacers. He added 11 assists, three boards, and one steal. The former Maverick led his team in scoring once again. Unfortunately, his efforts weren't enough, with the Knicks dropping Games 1 and 2 on their home court. New York will look to turn things around in Game 3 on Sunday. In two games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during the regular season, Brunson averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 33.3% from behind the arc. However, he has been more aggressive on the offensive end during this series, so there's a good chance he'll be more productive.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
New York Knicks forward
OG Anunoby filled the box score in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, recording 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks in a 138-135 overtime loss. The 2019 NBA champion was impactful at both ends of the floor, although Anunoby's shooting struggles continued with a 6-for-15 effort from the field, which included a 2-for-8 showing from downtown. His shooting efficiency has dropped to 39.7 percent during the postseason, leading to inconsistent performances on the offensive end. Still, the Knicks can always rely on Anunoby for high-level defense, which has kept him on the floor for an average of 40.2 minutes per game in the playoffs.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
New York Knicks forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns finished Wednesday's 138-135 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers with 35 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 11-for-17 from the field. He was also busy at the free-throw line, going 9-for-11, and hit 4-for-8 from three-point land. Towns capped off his line with two assists, one steal, and one block. New York's star big man reached the 30-point plateau for the second time this postseason and recorded his eighth double-double in nine games. However, he will be disappointed not to have left the court on the winning side. Towns may have to do even more in the upcoming games for the Knicks to keep up with Indiana in the series.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
New York Knicks point guard
Jalen Brunson notched 43 points on 15-for-25 shooting in Wednesday's clash against the Indiana Pacers but still ended up on the losing side, as his team blew a big fourth-quarter lead to drop Game 1 of the Conference Finals 138-135 in overtime. Brunson's lone three-point basket of the night gave New York a 119-105 lead with 2:51 to go in the fourth quarter, but Pacers forward
Aaron Nesmith exploded from downtown with several makes, leading to an embarrassing collapse for the Knicks on their home court. En route to his second 40-point effort this postseason, Brunson also did a lot of damage at the charity stripe, going 12-for-14. He had one rebound and five assists but committed seven turnovers. The Knicks now find themselves in an uncomfortable spot in the series, yet they always have a chance to win a game with Brunson, who averages 29.9 points and 7.5 assists for the playoffs.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
Indiana Pacers forward/center
Pascal Siakam had a tough time hitting shots in Wednesday's 138-135 overtime win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. He went 7-for-16 from the field, missing both of his attempts from deep. However, the Cameroonian star still produced a decent fantasy line, notching 17 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a team-high 43 minutes. Siakam's shooting woes robbed him of an opportunity to record a third consecutive 20-point effort. Still, it was a good showing from him, and considering Siakam has shot 53.5 percent for the entire postseason, there is a strong chance he will do better in Friday's Game 2.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
Indiana Pacers forward
Aaron Nesmith had a major role in Wednesday's 138-135 comeback victory over the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, putting up 30 points with a remarkable 8-for-9 three-point shooting. He had saved most of his three-point bombs for the final five minutes of regulation, racking up a whopping 20 points to help the Pacers push the game to overtime from a 14-point deficit. Nesmith made only one two-point shot, going 9-for-13 from the field. He also had a pair of rebounds and blocks with one steal in the contest. While Nesmith is mainly known for his defensive abilities, he has hit three-pointers at an outstanding rate throughout the postseason (53.8 percent), and the Knicks need to pay closer attention to him when he has the ball behind the arc.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 22, 2025
Indiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton produced a big double-double to lead his team to a 138-135 overtime victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He finished with 31 points and 11 assists, pushing the game past regulation with a buzzer-beating shot. Haliburton had a quiet fourth quarter but more than made up for it with the dramatic bucket, which sent the game to overtime after New York had led by 14 points with under three minutes remaining in the period. The two-time All-Star finished 12-for-23 from the field and shot 4-for-12 from behind the arc, wrapping up his line with four rebounds and one assist. This was Haliburton's sixth double-double of the postseason and his second consecutive 30-point game. He appears to be peaking at just the right moment as the Pacers hope to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday night. SGA, who received 71 first-place votes, 42 more than Denver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic, had a stellar campaign. He appeared in 76 games during the regular season, averaging a career-high 32.7 points with 5.0 boards, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks. The 26-year-old also led OKC to a 68-14 record to secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Without question, Gilgeous-Alexander has the potential to earn a few more MVP awards moving forward. He'll also be the No. 1 overall fantasy option for many managers heading into the 2025-26 season.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Communications
May 21, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves center
Rudy Gobert put in a disappointing 21-minute effort in Tuesday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, tallying only two points, three rebounds, one steal, and one block in a 114-88 loss. He finished 1-for-3 from the field and missed both of his free throws. The Thunder are well-equipped in the paint with
Isaiah Hartenstein and
Chet Holmgren, and Gobert has to contribute a lot more for Minnesota to have a chance at making it into the NBA Finals. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year has averaged only 1.3 blocks this postseason, while notching 8.3 points and grabbing 9.0 rebounds.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards struggled to make an impact in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, settling for 18 points in a 114-88 loss. Edwards hurt his right ankle late in the first quarter but still logged a team-high 37 minutes of playing time. Additionally, he led the Timberwolves with nine rebounds and registered three assists and one block, shooting 5-for-13 from the field with a 3-for-8 record from deep. Edwards has averaged 20 shot attempts per game this postseason, so it's quite an achievement for the Thunder to limit him to just 13 shots. Remarkably, this also marks only the second game in the playoffs where Edwards didn't reach the 20-point plateau. We can expect him to come back with a much stronger effort in Game 2.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward
Julius Randle maintained his hot hand in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder but couldn't save his squad from a 114-88 defeat. The former Knick put up a team-high 28 points on 9-for-13 shooting, tallying eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Randle made five triples with six attempts but also committed five turnovers in the game. While Randle has been hot offensively in the postseason, his ball-handling has been poor in recent games, with this being his fourth consecutive outing with at least four turnovers. Against a top team like the Thunder, Minnesota cannot afford any sloppiness in its game, and Randle must lead the way alongside
Anthony Edwards.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center
Chet Holmgren was unable to extend his double-double streak to three games during Tuesday's Western Conference Finals opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he still had a very productive night in a 114-88 victory. The 23-year-old scored 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, hitting his only three-point attempt, and recorded seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks. Holmgren's versatility makes it challenging for opponents to handle him, and the Timberwolves must certainly limit his impact to keep the series competitive. Through 12 postseason appearances, Holmgren has averaged 15.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 29.8 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
May 21, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward
Jalen Williams made an impact all over the court in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, recording 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a 114-88 win. He shot 7-for-18 from the field, including 1-for-2 from outside, and was perfect with his free throws, going 4-for-4. It was an impressive two-way performance from Williams, who was close to achieving his seventh postseason game with 20-plus points and set a playoff career high in steals. While Williams' shooting numbers have dropped in the postseason, he continues to be highly effective, averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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