Knicks star reveals secret team meeting after embarrassing loss to Pacers inspired decisive Game 5 victory

NEW York Knicks guard Miles McBride revealed that the team held a players-only meeting following their crushing Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Pacers won 121-89 at home on Sunday, tying the second-round playoff series at 2-2.

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The Knicks shot just 33.7% from the field and 18.9% from 3 that day, recording their lowest-scoring game of the 2024 NBA Playoffs

New York didn’t try to use its injury problems as an excuse for subpar performance.

“We really have to get back to playing basketball, get back to playing in front of the fans like this,” center Isaiah Hartenstein said.

“Because the way we played, especially today, we didn’t respect the fans and the way they support us.”

All-Star guard Jalen Brunson echoed Hartenstein’s words.

“We have what we have and we need to move forward with it.

“So there’s no ‘we’re short of manpower.’ There is no excuse at all.

The Knicks looked like a completely different team in Game 5 on Tuesday, defeating the Pacers 121-91 in a victory inspired by Brunson’s 44-point performance.

It was a close contest for just eight minutes, after which New York accelerated, took the lead with an 11-0 run and never looked back.

But McBride, 23, said after the game that the team’s metamorphosis actually began shortly after the Pacers tied the series on Sunday.

“I think the change started in the locker room at Indiana,” the 6-foot-2 point guard said.

As the Knicks players left the court, McBride continued, they gathered to identify the “little things” that propelled the Pacers in Game 4.

And they assured that they would work “together as a unit” to fix them.

“We talked about it and knew we had to respond,” McBride said.

“And then we text constantly. Just to make sure our minds are right, we’re taking care of our bodies, we’re taking care of everything we needed to do to come here and get a win.”

The Knicks’ camaraderie showed on the court in Game 5.

Hartenstein and Alec Burks didn’t care about the technical fouls they were about to receive when Indiana’s Isaiah Jackson took down Donte DiVincenzo with an illegal screen in the first half.

Both quickly tackled the Pacers forward to defend their teammate, with Hartenstein pushing Jackson away.

“They are family to me too,” said Hartenstein AtléticoIt’s Fred Katz from the altercation.

“So if something happens to them, it doesn’t matter what kind of situation it is.”

“I will always defend them.”

The Knicks will have a chance to close out the series in Game 6 on Friday.