Knicks fall behind 0-2 in Eastern Conference finals series vs. Pacers

Knicks fall behind 0-2 in Eastern Conference finals series vs. Pacers

TheNew York Knickshave fallen to a place that no team in NBA history has ever overcome. After ahistoric collapsein Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks let Game 2 slip through their fingers, in a 114-109 loss. No NBA team has ever lost the first two games at home and come back to win a series in the conference finals. Click Here For More Sports Coverage On Foxnews.com Pascal Siakam scored a playoff career-high 39 points, and the Pacers beat the New York Knicks 114-109 on Friday night for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. "We have a long way to go and it's only going to get tougher for us," Siakam said. Read On The Fox News App Myles Turner added 16 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Pacers, who lost to the Lakers in 2000 in their only NBA Finals appearance. Siakam finished 15 for 23 from the field on a night nobody else on the high-scoring Pacers had more than five baskets. "Special game," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "In the first half he was the guy that got us going and got us through some difficult stretches." Jalen Brunson had 36 points and 11 assists for the Knicks, who need a quick turnaround or their first appearance in the conference finals in 25 years will be a brief one. They defended much better after their crushing collapse ina 138-135 overtime lossin Game 1, but couldn't find enough scoring to come back after a bad start to the fourth quarter. Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-alexander Wins First Career Nba Mvp Award Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, but Towns played just 28 minutes as coach Tom Thibodeau went longer with backup Mitchell Robinson, a much better defender who grabbed nine rebounds. "Going into the fourth quarter it's a tie ballgame. We've just got to make better plays, more winning plays," Thibodeau said. It was tied at 81 after three, before the Pacers opened the fourth with a 13-4 run to move ahead 94-85 on Siakam's 3-pointer with 9:17 remaining. They would quickly push the margin back to around there every time the Knicks got any momentum, and it was 110-100 after another basket by Siakam with 2:45 to play. The Knicks scored nine straight to make it 110-109 on Josh Hart's basket with 14 seconds to go. Aaron Nesmith made two free throws for the Pacers, Brunson was well off on a 3-point attempt and Turner finished it out with two free throws. The 50th playoff meeting between the rivals — the Pacers lead 28-22, all since 1993 — more closely resembled their defensive battles of the 1990s than the shootout of two nights earlier. Indiana raced to a 19-9 lead, but the Knicks quickly caught them when Robinson and Deuce McBride entered and the game remained within a single-digit margin nearly the entire rest of the night. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital'ssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Original article source:Knicks fall behind 0-2 in Eastern Conference finals series vs. Pacers

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Knicks fall behind 0-2 in Eastern Conference finals series vs. Pacers

Knicks fall behind 0-2 in Eastern Conference finals series vs. Pacers TheNew York Knickshave fallen to a place that no team in NBA history h...

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Carlos Alcaraz shows signs of Rafael Nadal’s ‘killer instinct’ as he prepares for French Open title defense

Carlos Alcaraz shows signs of Rafael Nadal's 'killer instinct' as he prepares for French Open title defense

If an 18th birthday is supposed to be a momentous, coming-of-age occasion, thenCarlos Alcarazgot the memo. In front of a home crowd in Madrid, the then-up-and-coming tennis star braced himself to face one of the game's great players for the first time. Alcaraz had spent his whole childhood idolizingRafael Nadal. To face the legendary Spaniard on his favored clay surface produced a cocktail of emotions: excitement, exhilaration, but also deep-seated terror. "I was so scared," Alcaraz has since said about that moment. "I couldn't play. His presence, the atmosphere that you feel – it's unbelievable." For Nadal's camp, those nerves were plain to see. Carlos Moyá, the long-time former coach to the 22-time grand slam singles champion, could sense it from the stands – a young player suddenly overawed and overwhelmed by his opponent. Yet despite the lopsided scoreline – Nadal romped to a 6-1, 6-2 victory on the Madrid clay – Moyá was also impressed by the young Spaniard on the other side of the net. "You could see that he was special," the former world No. 1 tellsCNN Sports. "He had all the shots … drop shots or volleys or running, it was great to watch." Four years on from that match, Alcaraz's raw talent has come to fruition. He's now a four-time grand slam champion and the favorite to defend his French Open title when the tournament gets underway on Sunday – an event that Nadal has dominated for the past two decades. Though seeded second behind Italy'sJannik Sinner, who is making a return from adoping suspension, Alcaraz defeated his rival in the final of the Italian Open last week. Prior to that, he won the Monto-Carlo Masters and reached the final of the Barcelona Open before losing to Holger Rune. When he returns to Roland Garros to face veteran Japanese player Kei Nishikori in the first round, Alcaraz will do so having won 15 of his 16 clay-court matches this season. "He is 22, so he has a bright present and bright future ahead of him, and he has all the tools to keep winning slams," says Moyá, adding: "You don't know what can happen in five years, eight, 10, I don't know, but for sure, he has three, four, five years ahead of him that he can win slams. "I think his game is amazing. And although he can play well everywhere, I think clay is the best surface for him. He has all the shots to do well on clay. And as he proved this last month, winning Monte-Carlo and Rome, he probably is the biggest favorite to win the French Open." With Alcaraz and Sinner leading the charge in the men's draw, it feels like this year's tournament in Paris is truly the start of a new era. Nadal, an unprecedented 14-time champion on these courts, has called time on his career, and instead will be honored by organizers when play begins on Sunday. Moyá, himself a former French Open champion who coached Nadal to eight grand slam titles, will be there to soak up the tributes to the tournament's favorite son. The chance to acknowledge Nadal's astonishing French Open record – he lost just four of his 116 matches on the Paris Clay – will be bittersweet, a fond but painful parting. "It's going to be a strange feeling for me, but we're going to enjoy it," says Moyá. "We enjoyed it so much in the past eight years being with Rafa. He was feeling unbeatable and we always have great memories when we've been there, and also for me because of what happened in '98 (defeating fellow Spaniard Àlex Corretja in the final). "It's going to be a different feeling, and I don't think I'll watch too much on TV once I'm home because I feel kind of sad not being there. But I wish all the best to all the competitors that are going to be there." Indeed, Moyá admits that he hasn't watched a lot of tennis since Nadal bid goodbye to the sport in November. He's yet to take up another full-time coaching post, but has been named a captain for the inauguralLegends Team Cup, a new tour in which 15 not-long-retired players have been drafted into three teams. The tournament gets underway on the Caribbean island of St. Barts next month, while Moyá's team – which features 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem, as well as former top-10 players Diego Schwartzman and Fernando Verdasco – will make a first appearance in New York in July. "During the years I've been with Rafa, (he) played against probably all of them," says Moyá. "That's going to help me a little bit. And I hope to give my team the right orders. They are good enough to play even without the captain, but I'll try to help. I'll try to add my experience, and I'm really looking forward to it." The Legends Team Cup is a timely reminder that, although an elite athlete's body may wane with time, the desire to compete at a high level never fades entirely. "This is what we have in our blood – try to win whatever it takes," Moyá adds. "Sometimes, you miss that competition." That same competitive desire might be reignited briefly when Moyá and Nadal return to the French Open's Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday, albeit without the forehands and fireworks that typified Nadal's all-conquering performances on clay. As they soak up the tributes and applause, both will have the chance to see Alcaraz kick-off his title defense, the same nervous teenager who was crushed by his idol just over four years ago. With Nadal in the stands and Alcaraz now the formidable force on the court, it will be hard to escape the sense that one tennis generation is finally giving way to the next. And if there's one thing the two men have in common, for Moyá it boils down to mentality. "This never-say-die attitude, they both have it," he says, "and this killer instinct, they have it." Nadal built a fortress at the French Open. The time now feels ripe for Alcaraz to forge a legacy of his own. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz shows signs of Rafael Nadal’s ‘killer instinct’ as he prepares for French Open title defense

Carlos Alcaraz shows signs of Rafael Nadal's 'killer instinct' as he prepares for French Open title defense If an 18th birthday ...

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Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager

Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager

The New York Islanders confirmed early reports, announcing Mathieu Darche as the team's general manager Friday. "Mathieu is the perfect choice to lead our hockey operations," Islanders operating partner John Collins said. "He will be given every resource available to put the Islanders first-in-class on the ice, with our business initiatives, and in the community." Darche, 48, has served as the director of hockey operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the past six seasons. The Lightning qualified for the playoffs in each year of that stretch, including capturing consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021 and appearing in the Finals in 2022. Tabbed general manager and executive vice president, Darche will replace Lou Lamoriello, who left the Islanders last month after seven seasons. "I am truly honored by the opportunity to be the New York Islanders general manager and executive vice president," Darche said. "I'd like to thank Scott Malkin, Jon Ledecky, John Collins, and the entire ownership group for entrusting me with the hockey operations of this great franchise." Lamoriello, 82, was hired in 2018 as New York's president of hockey operations. He is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in the builders category (2009). A native of St. Laurent, Quebec, Darche is a former player, having competed in 250 regular-season NHL games and 18 playoff games, scoring 72 regular-season points (30 goals) over nine seasons for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Lightning, and Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders missed the playoffs in 2024-25 after posting a 35-35-12 record. New York, however, landed the top overall pick of the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft earlier this month, despite having the 10th-best chance of winning the lottery at 3.5 percent. "With the Islanders owning the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and preparing to welcome the Olympic sendoff at UBS Arena next season, there is much to which our franchise, our players, and our passionate fans can look forward," Collins said. --Field Level Media

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager

Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager The New York Islanders confirmed early reports, announcing Mathieu Darche as the team'...

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McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2

McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2

DENVER (AP) — Ryan McMahon lined a two-run double off the top of the centerfield wall, Tanner Gordon got his first major league win and the scuffling Colorado Rockies stopped a five-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the AL East-leading New York Yankees on Friday night. In front of a sellout crowd at Coors Field, the Rockies improved to 9-42, the most losses through 51 games since 1901. Colorado, which has yet to win a series this season, is 2-9 since Warren Schaeffer replaced Bud Black as manager. Aaron Judge hit his 17th homer of the season, a solo shot in the fifth of his first regular season game at Coors Field. He finished 2 for 4 and raised his major league-leading average to .398. Gordon (1-1), a 27-year-old right-hander who entered with a 5.68 ERA, allowed two runs and five hits in six innings before turning it over to the bullpen. After Jake Bird threw a perfect seventh, Seth Halvorsen worked his way out of trouble in the eighth by getting Judge to hit into a double play and striking out Ben Rice. Zach Agnos pitched around a one-out walk in the ninth for his third save. New York went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and its last 14 batters failed to get a hit. The Yankees had won six of their previous seven games. Clarke Schmidt (1-2) was cruising along until the fifth and had a 2-1 lead when he allowed two-out singles by Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman. He was taken out for Tim Hill, who surrendered the two-run double to McMahon. Some of the loudest cheers of the night were for Judge and Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who delivered a strike while throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Key moment The Yankees hit into two double plays, including a nifty turn by second baseman Adael Amador in the fourth. Key stat The Rockies are 2-2 this season while wearing their vibrant City Connect uniforms. Up next Yankees lefty Max Fried (6-0, 1.29 ERA) can tie Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt (7-3) for the major league lead in wins Saturday. Colorado will throw lefty Kyle Freeland (0-6, 5.68). ___ More AP baseball:https://apnews.com/MLB

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2

McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2 DENVER (AP) — Ryan McMahon lined a two-run double o...

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Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY

Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY

NEW YORK — TheIndiana Pacersare going home with a commanding2-0 leadin theNBA'sEastern Conference finals after again silencing the Madison Square Garden crowd with a114-109victory over theNew York Knickson Friday. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 39 points as all five Indiana starters scored in double figures. The Knicks will try to come back from an 0-2 deficit to make it to the Finals. These very Pacers pulled off the trick last season against the Knicks in the semifinal round and won Game 7 in New York to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. Game 3 is in Indianapolison Sunday (8 p.m. ET, TNT). MORE:2025 All-NBA team: MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić headline first squad MORE:Celebs at Knicks vs. Pacers: Russell Wilson, Ciara at Game 2. See stars at Madison Square Garden The Pacers' power forward came out strong, scoring 23 points in the first half to handle the early scoring load as Indiana took an early 10-point lead. He finished with 39 points (15-of-23 FG, 3-of-5 3-point FG) and carried the team for the majority of the game until the rest of the starters picked it up in the second half. Siakam, who helped lead theToronto Raptorsto the 2019 NBA championship, set a playoff career high. Tyrese Haliburton, who only scored two points in the first half, finished with 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. MORE:Story behind Ben Sheppard's mustache: Pacers guard says, 'I feel like it's part of me now' Just like the world championBoston Celticsdid in the semifinals, this time it was the Knicks' opportunity to squander the first two games at home and find themselves having to win four of the next five games to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1999. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the reserves couldn't keep the game close, and Jalen Brunson, who had 36 points and 11 assists, couldn't bring the Knicks back. The Pacers' ability to get to the paint almost at will hurt the Knicks, especially in the fourth quarter. Indiana took advantage of New York's smaller guards, and when they weren't scoring with uncontested layups or getting fouled, the Pacers' outside shooters capitalized. The do-everything guard for the Knicks was a non-factor, getting into foul trouble early and never finding his groove. He finished with six points on 2-of-3 shooting and six rebounds in 29 minutes of action. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff high; Josh Hart, defense AWOL

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY

Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY NEW YORK — TheIndiana Pacersare going home with a c...

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