The Knicks’ epic collapse to the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals inspired at least one pro athlete to see his job all the way through. PGA Tour pro John Pak credited his fiery start Thursday at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth to the pitfalls of his beloved Knicks, explaining how their fourth-quarter meltdown and eventual 138-135 overtime loss to Indiana fueled his play at Colonial. The die-hard Knicks fan from Scotch Plains, N.J. shot a career-low round of 7-under 63 to put him atop the leaderboard Thursday, despite a lackluster slumber.
Not really sure why this matters, but John Pak mentioned how the devastating loss by the Knicks had lit a fire under him that morning. He expressed his frustration over the Knicks’ performance, claiming it was one of the worst losses he had ever seen. Pak admitted that he didn’t sleep well after the game and planned to recover, do some stretching, and maybe catch the Thunder game later that day. The Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton even took a jab at the Knicks over their Game 1 collapse.
The Knicks, making their first appearance in the Eastern Conference finals since 2000, squandered a 14-point lead with less than three minutes to go, ultimately giving the Pacers the momentum they needed to steal Game 1 on the road. Despite postgame reflections from players like Josh Hart on the team’s defensive shortcomings and lack of intensity, the Knicks have a chance to even the series with a win at Madison Square Garden before heading to Indiana for Games 3 and 4. John Pak will tee off Friday afternoon, well before Game 2 between the Knicks and Pacers tips off, aiming to maintain his position atop the leaderboard.
