Knicks vs. Pacers Game 4 live updates: Score, highlights, news

Tom Thibodeau doesn’t want to hear excuses being made for his team because of injuries, in particular the one to OG Anunoby. They’ve played without him plenty this season. 

As for the performance, the Knicks’ coach said they just never responded, and they need to “fix it” immediately. 

“We’ve gotta come with a will and determination to respond to what happened. This team has responded all year so that’s what we’re expecting to do,” he said.

Donte DiVincenzo set a Knicks playoff record with the worst rating ever, of minus-40 in his 32 minutes. The Pacers’ 28-point halftime lead was their largest in franchise history as well. The 32-point defeat was the fifth-worst in the postseason for the Knicks.

Here’s a positive stat: The last time the Knicks won the first two games of a playoff series and then lost the next two, was the 1994 Eastern Conference finals. They won that series in seven. The opponent: The Pacers.

Ben Stiller is trying to stay optimistic after the Knicks were obliterated on Sunday.

It’s now a best-of-3. The Pacers destroyed the Knicks on Sunday, 121-89, making it 2-2 with Game 5 on Tuesday back at the Garden. It was a 38-point game after three and coach Tom Thibodeau sat his starters for the better part of the last quarter and a half.

Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo combined to shoot 9-of-30 and the Pacers bench exploded for 57 points,15 from T.J. McConnell. A thorough beatdown that made it seem like the injuries and lack of depth are catching up to the Knicks.

Late in the third quarter, Tom Thibodeau went to Shake Milton, his first appearance of the postseason for the Knicks. A few possessions later, DaQuan Jeffries came in. Thibodeau had all five starters on the bench with the Knicks down 38. 

After three quarters, it’s 101-63. The Mother’s Day Massacre in Indianapolis. Some much-needed rest on tap in the final quarter for Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and co. 

Obi Toppin is up to 12 points and just threw down a reverse alley-oop dunk against the Knicks, his former team. He’s part of a bench unit that has piled up 34 points.

Halftime didn’t change much for either team. The Knicks certainly don’t look like they have a rally in them. After a Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointer, the margin grew to 35. It’s now 33 with 6:22 left in the quarter.

It will be interesting to see if coach Tom Thibodeau rests his starters if something doesn’t change in the next few minutes. Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo are a combined 8-for-28 from the field.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is not having a pleasant afternoon.

The Pacers played great at both ends. The Knicks were terrible. The result is a 69-41 deficit. Five Pacers are in double figures. The Knicks shot 36 percent from the field.

They look tired, all the injuries finally starting to wear this team down. Indiana is the far more energetic team right now, beating the Knicks to loose balls. It’s hard to see them getting back into this game at this point. The 28-point halftime deficit is the franchise’s second largest in a playoff game ever.

ESPN star Pat McAfee is in the house for the Knicks-Pacers Game 4 in Indianapolis.

After falling hard on his right shoulder, Isaiah Hartenstein appeared to be in pain. But after a timeout, he stayed in the game. Obviously, the already short-handed Knicks cannot afford to lose anyone else. They’re already out with a number of key players.

Indiana has led by as many as 28. It’s now a 22-point game. The Pacers are crushing the Knicks.

It’s not any one thing. They are sharper, more physical and playing with more effort. It’s 22-16 on the glass. The Knicks look like they are wearing down after all the minutes and the lack of the depth. They can’t keep the Pacers out of the paint and giving up wide open looks. It’s 25-5 in bench points in favor of Indiana and 11-1 in transition points.