There will be a pivotal Game 4 and a pivotal Game 5 on the NBA Playoff schedule Tuesday evening as the second round of the postseason continues to cruise along. It's the New York Knicks in Indiana against the Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs hosting the Golden State Warriors. Here's tip off time for both games.
First up, as usual, the Eastern Conference matchup. The Pacers lead the Knicks 2-1 in the series and Indiana seems to have reversed the roles in this series after going beserk from three-point land in Saturday's Game 3.
Game 4 Time: 7 p.m. ET
It's a weekday and folks have to be in bed a bit earlier, so tip off is an hour earlier than Saturday's game. The Knicks need to win if they don't want to run the risk of getting closed out at home in Game 5. The Knicks half-court offense needs some organization. When it's not Carmelo Anthony popping out in isolation, it's J.R. Smith take a roundhouse fade away that barely hits the rim.
Raymond Felton should get more touches when Anthony is off since he is apparently the only Knick guard strong enough to body bigger players in the paint and finish at the basket. The Pacers seem to not care if the Knicks shoot threes all day, but the Knicks only attempted 11 three-pointers hitting just three of them.
As of right now, the Pacers have the upperhand in the game and series until the Knicks can prove they are willing to make changes in their offense.
Game 5 Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Tipoff will likely be a couple of minutes after the time posted. It usually takes some time for the second game to start as the first one wraps up. Who will in this one between the Spurs and Warriors? The series is tied 2-2 and the winner will be just a victory away from the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs let one slip away on Sunday as the Warriors returned the favor following the Game 1 overtime loss in San Antonio. The Spurs led for most of this game. Stephen Curry wasn't 100 percent, Klay Thompson wasn't shooting like a superhero and in fact, Jarret Jack and Harrison Barnes were responsible for the victory on Sunday as they continued to hit shots and make big plays late in the game to keep the Warriors hovering around San Antonio's small lead.
Who will rise up to the occasion for the Spurs? The Warriors seem to have more options right now, but the Spurs have the crowd behind them in Game 5.