They did so off the back of an emotionally draining overtime playoff clinching victory against the Indiana Pacers. In this crucial Game 3 in Indianapolis, the Knicks were looking at a painful 20-point hole. They fought back and earned a third-straight comeback playoff victory. Beyond serving as a testament to the squad’s grit, this victory has further underscored the team’s dominating display away from home this year.
In a calculated decision, Josh Hart was swapped out of the starting lineup by Mitchell Robinson to play in this deciding game. Hart quoted above said that getting out from under the intense pressure of playing in New York might do him some good. It doesn’t matter if you get 30 points,” Hart said, preaching the value of team cohesion and the willingness to sacrifice personal accolades for the greater good. He went on, “It really doesn’t matter how many minutes you played. It doesn’t even matter if you think you’ve finished or not. It depends on if you win. That’s the most important thing.”
Mitchell Robinson, who was thrust into the starting role without Mitchell, stated it perfectly when describing the Knicks’ dominance on the street. “And we’ve been a terrific road team all season long,” he said. In particular, he noted that when playing in unfriendly territory, the fiercest competition tends to bring out the best in athletes. He continued, “Honestly, home or away, you’ve just got to compete.”
That win in Indy was very important for the little series that could. It further highlighted the Knicks’ exceptional knack for rallying from huge deficits this playoff run. They celebrated their third comeback win on the road. Early in the series, they notched stellar wins against the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. Robinson’s insertion into the starting lineup ended up being the biggest X factor in this blowout victory.
Pacers center Myles Turner went so far as to say MSG is his “favorite place to play.” He didn’t call it “the Mecca” for nothing, though. Turner noted that he enjoys being on the road and thrives in challenging environments where he can embrace the role of the antagonist. Nothing compares to being on the road! I believe that I work best in dangerous conditions and I am the enemy, I am the villain. I enjoy that,” Turner said.
Along with Robinson’s efforts, Karl Towns had an epic consistent fourth-quarter performance. After scoring only four points in the first half, Towns erupted for 20 points in the final quarter, flexing to the crowd and exuding confidence. His unusual prowess to execute in the clutch demonstrated his own potential as a consummate clutch performer when everything was on the line.
The Knicks’ knack for coming back from these large deficits says a lot about their fight and the camaraderie of the squad. Occasionally, you need to go out on a limb and be a lone voice in the wilderness. As Mikal Bridges felt, this type of mindset is usually accompanied by the struggles of hitting the road.
As the Knicks prepare for their next game in the series, they will look to maintain their momentum and capitalize on their success as a formidable road team. With key players like Robinson stepping up and Hart adjusting to his new role, the team appears to be well-equipped for the challenges ahead.
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