The Knicks are on the verge of elimination — and the biggest reason may surprise you

The biggest reason why the Knicks face a 3-1 deficit — and elimination — against the Pacers: New York can’t defend when Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns share the floor together.

During the New York Knicks’ run up to and through the first four games of the conference finals, stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have played pivotal roles in the team’s success.

It was Brunson, for example, who hit an iconic game winner against the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of the first round. And it was Towns who scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to lead a comeback victory against the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their current series.

While the players have both provided flashpoint moments individually, their partnership has faltered in one very important area during the playoffs, and in particular the conference finals. And it's the biggest reason the Knicks face a 3-1 deficit — and elimination — against the Pacers: New York can’t defend when Brunson and Towns share the floor.

In the 91 minutes Brunson and Towns have been on the court during the conference finals, the Knicks have a 130.2 defensive rating. For context, the league-worst Utah Jazz finished with a 119.4 defensive rating in the regular season. Indiana’s offense essentially becomes one of the best in NBA history when Brunson and Towns are on defense.

In those 91 Brunson-Towns minutes, the Pacers are shooting 51.8% from the field and 39.4% from 3-point range. In that time, Indiana also has 51 assists compared with only 10 turnovers, and it has outscored New York by 24 points.

https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nba/knicks-are-verge-elimination-biggest-reason-may-surprise-rcna209578


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