The Indiana Pacers look to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night with a Game 4 win.
Indiana is playing with confidence after defeating the Knicks on Saturday, 82-71. Despite their 2-1 lead in the series, the Pacers know they can't rest on their laurels.
"We should approach this game the same way that they're going to approach it, and that's a must-win," Pacers swingman Paul George told reporters on Monday. "We've got to get this game. We've got to get this game under our belt, take care of our home court. That'll just set us up to take care of business on the road."
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Indiana finished the regular season as the NBA's best rebounding team, and they have carried that into the postseason. The Pacers have out-rebounded the Knicks thus far in the series; they also outscored the Knicks 20-10 on second-chance points Saturday night, according to the Associated Press.
"We don't want to get relaxed. We don't want to feel happy or complacent," George said. "We've got to come out and play, again, the same way that they're going to approach the game, and that's just with a lot of energy. We have to match their energy but still play our style of basketball."
New York's offense has been lacking. Aside from Carmelo Anthony's 28.3 points per game average, the Knicks haven't produced offensively.
"There can't just be one or two guys out there," Knicks center Tyson Chandler said. "It has to be an entire time and that's where we're falling short right now."
Even Anthony has struggled, scoring only two points in Game 3's fourth quarter. He and reserve J.R. Smith, the team's second-best scoring option, have combined for just 40 of 112 from the field this series.
New York coach Mike Woodson understands the importance of the team pushing past its offensive woes.
"I wouldn't want to go back home down 3-1, so Tuesday's a pivotal game for us," Woodson said. "I have to get these guys pumped up and ready to go."
Game 4's tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.
