----WEDNESDAY UPDATE---- Heat win series--- Click here for story!
The Memphis Grizzlies make history! Updated Playoff Standings here---
The Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs are just one win away from entering the Conference Finals after huge victories Tuesday evening. The Pacers crushed the New York Knicks 83-72 while the Spurs put this one away early in the fourth defeating the Golden State Warriors 109-91. Needless to say, the NBA Playoff standings have four teams with four teams with three victories in their series.
The Pacers took it to the Knicks once again dominating the most crucial part of the game: offensive rebounds. Once again, it was the Pacers length, strength and presence in the paint that helped them continuously get second chance points.
The Pacers had 36 points in the paint and totaled 19 second chance points. The Knicks had 26 points in the paint and scored 16 second chance points after losing the offensive rebound battle 11-16. Roy Hibbert grabbed six offensive rebounds, Ian Mahinmi grabbed four off the bench and Paul George had three offensive rebounds in this game.
J.R. Smith did a better job hitting his shots as he finished with 19 points, however doing it on 7-22 from the floor. This is way better than his previous performance. You can tell he was getting frustrated by his body language. He was walking slowly with his head down and his shoulder slumped.
Carmelo Anthony had 24 points, but he once again did not score a point in the fourth quarter, when the Knicks needed him the most as they had trimmed the lead down to single digits and were making a run. In the end, George Hill's game high 24 points and George's 18 points were too much for the Knicks to handle.
The Spurs seemed to have figured out vital things in the first quarter of this game. They found out they could physically outmatch the Warriors and that this would help them score easy buckets in the paint. The Spurs finished the quarter shooting 72 percent from the floor as they attacked the post and hit high percentage shots. They even had as big as a 12-point lead.
After trailing 12-15, the Spurs closed out the first quarter on a 25-13 run knocking down shot after shot. Tony Parker had 25 points, Kawh had 17 points and Daniel Green added 16.
As the Spurs offense was successful, their defense remained intense throughout as, through the first three quarters of this game they held Klay Thompson to just 2 points and Stephen Curry had just nine. They finished the game a combined 13 points on 6-22 shooting from the floor.
It was Jarret Jack once again keeping his guys in the fight, but unfortunately, he is no LeBron James or Stephen Curry. Harrison Barnes tried helping out, but it wasn't enough. Jack finished the game with 20 points and the Warriors are now facing elimination in Game 6, which will be at home.
The Spurs are proving that experience is key and that though old, the Spurs are still capable of competing and making a run at the Western Conference title.
Here's what the Playoff Standings have going on after Tuesday's game:
Miami Heat 3-1 Chicago Bulls---- UPDATE** Heat win series 4-1
New York Knicks 1-3 Indiana Pacers
Oklahoma City Thunder 1-3 Memphis Grizzlies
San Antonio Spurs 3-2 Golden State Warriors