Thibs explains KAT's sparse minutes in 4th: On-court group 'gave us a chance' 6c5v3f

Karl-Anthony Towns played just under five-and-a-half minutes in the fourth quarter Friday as the New York Knicks lost again at home to fall behind 2-0 to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. 3u1l6f

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said his belief in the team's lineup at the time was behind his decision to hold the starting center out longer than usual.

"We got in a hole, and then the group that was in there gave us a chance, so we were just riding that," Thibodeau said postgame, per SNY. "We were just searching for a way to win."

Towns, who finished a team-worst minus-20 in Game 2, started the fourth but checked out alongside reserve guard Cameron Payne after three minutes for Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby with Indiana up 94-85. The Knicks immediately responded with a 9-3 run and kept the Pacers within five points for multiple possessions until Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton hit back-to-back threes as Indiana pulled away with four minutes to play.

Towns eventually re-entered at the 2:25 mark with New York trailing by nine. The Knicks made it interesting late, but Towns went without a field goal in the final frame.

The Knicks have dropped Games 1 and 2 at home for the first time in franchise history. They went down 2-0 in their last Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2000 - also against the Pacers - but responded with two wins in New York City before losing the series in six games.

Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Denver Nuggets in the second round last season despite losing three straight after taking a 2-0 series lead. He said Saturday he hopes to draw from his playoff experience to help lift the Knicks out of their current hole.

"If I've learned anything, especially last year, as quick as you win two games is as quick as you can lose two games," he said.