INDIANAPOLIS — Tom Thibodeau is normally so resistant to changes in his starting lineup and rotations.
Was it a bit of desperation?
A stroke of genius?
Either way, it worked.
More than worked, it helped spark the Knicks comeback in their 106-100 Game 3 win over the Pacers Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
He gave Delon Wright his first real minutes of the postseason — ahead of Cam Payne, who is normally ahead of him in the rotation. Payne did not play as a result.
Thibodeau also gave Landry Shamet his first meaningful minutes of the postseason, utilizing a nine-man rotation.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Thibodeau had previously only played eight, or at times seven, players since the playoffs began.
They both were on the court for the last 1:39 of the third quarter and for the start of the fourth quarter, when the Knicks turned a 13-point deficit to a three-point deficit by the time both checked back out.
Wright finished with two points in 13 minutes.
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Shamet finished with three points in 11 minutes.
The boxscore might not show a major impact, but it was apparent with the eye test.
They finished plus-2 and plus-12, respectively.
Four of the five Knicks starters finished in the negative, on the other hand — all of them besides Karl-Anthony Towns.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Their extended playing time was also due to Miles McBride’s early foul trouble.
He picked up two fouls in 10 seconds and three fouls in 1:22 (82 seconds) in the first quarter.
McBride was scoreless entering the fourth quarter, but then added nine down the stretch.
He played pivotal fourth-quarter minutes after Jalen Brunson got into his own foul trouble.
Throughout his career, Thibodeau has been criticized for not going to his bench.
But with the season pretty much on the line, Thibodeau’s use of his bench was pivotal.
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