Indiana Pacers set new playoff record with 76.3% shooting in Game 7 against New York Knicks
Pacers advanced to Eastern Conference finals despite injuries and depleted rosters
Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points and made four three-pointers in the first quarter
In an unexpected turn of events, the Indiana Pacers have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals after a dominating performance in Game 7 against the New York Knicks. The Pacers set a new playoff record with their scorching-hot shooting, leaving the Knicks in their wake.
The first quarter saw Tyrese Haliburton light up the scoreboard with an impressive 27 points and four three-pointers. The Pacers continued their exceptional form in the first half, making an impressive 76.3% of their shots, including all but two attempts in the paint and eight out of twelve from beyond the arc.
Despite injuries and depleted rosters for both teams, it was the Pacers who rose to the occasion. The Knicks were unable to keep up with their opponents' impressive shooting and fell short in their bid for a spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Pacers will now face off against the Boston Celtics, with Haliburton leading their charge. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating this highly-anticipated matchup.
Sources:
ESPN: Scorching-hot Pacers set playoff mark in Game 7 rout of Knicks
CBS News: How to watch the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Playoffs game today: Game 7 livestream options
NY Post: Knicks crushed by Pacers in deflating Game 7 as playoff hopes come to gut-wrenching end
Josh Hart and OG Anunoby both started in Game 7 despite 'questionable' statuses, receiving ovations during pregame introductions.
The Knicks were depleted with injuries and trades, no starter from the season opener was available to finish the game.
Jalen Brunson fractured his left hand while swiping for a ball in the third quarter and finished with disappointing performance.
Accuracy
The Pacers shot an outrageous 76% in the first half of Game 7, leading by as many as 22 points.
Tyrese Haliburton outdueled Brunson, scoring 26 points and celebrating at Knicks fan during Game 7.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as the author focuses on the Knicks' poor performance and injuries, while downplaying or omitting mention of the Pacers' impressive play and shooting percentage. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing the crowd's electric atmosphere for a Game 7 in nearly 30 years, only for it to be 'deflating'.
It represented the best shooting percentage for the first half of any team of the last 25 postseasons...
The Pacers were on fire at the start. Unbothered by the boisterous Garden crowd, they sank an outrageous 76 percent of their shots in the first half – including two-thirds of their 3-pointers – and led by as many as 22 points.
The circumstances were set for a heroic Knicks performance... But then it was the Pacers who rose to the occasion, while the Knicks, depleted to the bones and sloppy, slinked away in their Sunday afternoon 130-109 elimination.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the Knicks' performance as 'deflating', 'disappointing', and a 'sludge'. He also makes a dichotomous depiction of the Pacers as those who rose to the occasion and the Knicks, who were depleted and overwhelmed. The author quotes Hart saying 'Wasn't in the cards for us.' which is an appeal to fate fallacy.
The circumstances were set for a heroic Knicks performance. But then it was the Pacers who rose to the occasion, while the Knicks, depleted to the bones and sloppy, slinked away in their Sunday afternoon 130-109 elimination.
Josh Hart is greeted by Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau as he fouls out during the fourth quarter of Game 7. 'Wasn’t in the cards for us,' Hart said.
The Pacers, meanwhile, poured on the offense while shooting 67 percent. They got 26 points from Tyrese Haliburton, who was celebrating and talking smack all over the Garden court – particularly at a courtside Knicks fan who only seemed to stoke Haliburton’s enthusiasm. In the end, he outdueled Brunson.
Anunoby's defense was a problem and the forward was removed less than five minutes into the contest. That was it for Anunoby. Five points in five minutes.
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses disappointment and frustration towards the Knicks' performance in Game 7, using language like 'deflating', 'painful', and 'gut-wrenching'. He also uses phrases like 'slinked away' and 'overwhelmed' to describe the Knicks. The author also quotes Jalen Brunson as saying 'Wasn’t in the cards for us.' This language and these quotes demonstrate a bias against the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson reacts during the Knicks’ Game 7 loss on Sunday. He said 'Wasn’t in the cards for us.'
The circumstances were set for a heroic Knicks performance. But then it was the Pacers who rose to the occasion, while the Knicks, depleted to the bones and sloppy, slinked away in their Sunday afternoon 130-109 elimination.
The Pacers were on fire at the start. Unbothered by the boisterous Garden crowd, they sank an outrageous 76 percent of their shots in the first half – including two-thirds of their 3-pointers – and led by as many as 22 points.
