INDIANAPOLIS — One of the Knicks’ great strengths all season has been offensive rebounding, but losing that battle contributed to their loss in Game 3 against the Pacers.
The Pacers finished with 13 offensive boards, including six by center Myles Turner, and one by Aaron Nesmith that led to Andrew Nembhard’s tiebreaking 3-pointer with 17.1 seconds remaining.
“I think the fourth quarter, we lost by 10 [points], so I think that was the biggest thing: We had a couple of rebounds we didn’t get at the end,” Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein said after the game. “It’s still a close game. We could have won that game. But some small key details we just have to fix.”
The Knicks finished third in the NBA in fewest second-chance points allowed (12.3 per game) during the regular season, but they were 13th in that category in the playoffs through Friday night (13.4).
They also have led the league in offensive rebounding in both the 82-game slate and the postseason, but the Pacers held a 13-10 advantage in their first win of the series.
“For sure. I think that’s what we pride ourselves on, the identity for us,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “We knew that was going to be a point of emphasis for them coming into the game.
“We’ll go back, look at the film and see how we can clean up a few things. Ultimately just compete harder and I think it goes a different way for us.”
Of course, the Knicks were missing three key frontcourt players — Mitchell Robinson, Julius Randle and OG Anunoby — and that trio also will be out for Game 4 on Sunday.
Precious Achiuwa moved into the starting lineup, and Hartenstein played a personal playoff-high 39 minutes in Friday’s game.
“You don’t really wanna make excuses like that,” Hartenstein replied when asked if the shorthanded Knicks were “gassed” in the fourth quarter. “At the end of the day, we just have to get those rebounds. We normally get those rebounds at the end, so that’s an easy fix.”
Josh Hart grabbed a game-high 18 boards to become the first Knick since Patrick Ewing (1999) to have at least 15 in back-to-back playoff games.
Still, the Knicks were outrebounded 15-10 in the fourth quarter, including 5-3 on the offensive glass.
“Yeah, they got a couple. I wouldn’t say it’s extra frustrating, but they knew what they should have done better,” Hart said. “I’m not going to say it’s extra, but we have to be better. We have to be more sound, especially on long shots. You gotta know there’s going to be long rebounds.”
Asked what separated the two teams in the fourth quarter, guard Miles McBride added, “Second-chance opportunities. Obviously, that last play when [Nembhard] hit the 3 was a second chance. So I think we just gotta finish our defense. Sometimes I think the ball just takes a long bounce. In that case, we just have to be sharper, we have to just absolutely leave no doubt. Make sure that everybody’s accounted for it, and finish the play.”