Josh Hart’s Mistakes Crippled The Knicks In Game 4

Turning the ball over is something that can’t be done against any playoff team, but against a team that thrives in transition like the Indiana Pacers is something that the New York Knicks can’t do if they want to bring the series back.

The Knicks’ turnovers were the biggest determinants of their 130-121 Game 4 loss to the Pacers Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Knicks turned the ball over a total of 17 times, which is the same number of assists they had in their Game 4 loss. Knicks guard Josh Hart was most at fault for the turnovers on the team, as he led the team with five turnovers, with four of them coming in the first half.

The Pacers capitalized on Hart’s turnovers as they got out in transition and turned those turnovers into eight points on the other end.

“It’s tough to win against a team like that who turns those turnovers into points,” Hart said postgame. “I had like four or five. Just stupid turnovers that you can’t have. That leads to easy baskets, that leads to momentum. We gotta be more careful with the ball, starting with myself.”

The Pacers like to play fast and force opponents into uncharacteristic mistakes. The Pacers had a whopping 22-9 advantage in fast-break points. They also converted the Knicks’ 17 turnovers into 20 points. Hart fouled out of the game as well, which the Pacers scored nine points either as a result of or directly after those fouls.

The Pacers only committed 11 turnovers, which led to the Knicks scoring nine points off them. Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton had no turnovers and produced a 30-point, 15-assist and 12-rebound triple-double.

“I think it was probably a compilation of things,” coach Tom Thibodeau said postgame. “You turn it over against them, particularly the live-ball turnovers, you’re fueling their transition game.”

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Article by James Van Wickler