Myles

Turner

In addition to foul trouble, Turner had to deal with a lingering back issue that flared up after he took a shot during the first half of Monday’s game. He made multiple trips back to the locker room to receive treatment, and the Pacers center could not offer much help to his teammates in Game 4. Monday’s defeat is a brutal way for Turner’s season to end, as he reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in his career. The Pacers center finished the season ranked just outside the top 50, a bit disappointing given the Yahoo ADP (37.5). The 2023-24 campaign ended a run of three straight top-25 seasons for Turner, who’s capable of beginning a new streak next season.

While Turner shot the ball well from the field overall, there were some glaring deficiencies in his final stat line. The Pacers center missed all three of his 3-point attempts and failed to record a blocked shot for the second straight game. Indiana’s 3-point shooting is more concerning, as they were 5-of-22 in Game 3, and the Celtics outscored them by a 48-15 margin from deep. Not having Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) on the court impacted the quality of looks the Pacers could generate from three. And this could remain an issue in Game 4 if Haliburton cannot play. Turner will need to be more impactful on both ends if the Pacers are to extend this series.

Turner had a rough first half, and he entered the break with zero points, four turnovers and three fouls after playing just 12 minutes. He was better in the second half, and he didn’t add anymore turnovers or fouls. However, he only played 12 more minutes after that before Rick Carlisle pulled the plug. Turner was huge in Game 1, and even though it didn’t result in a win, it became even more clear that he is vital to their success. They’ll need him on the floor a lot more than he was in this game if they want to avoid a 3-0 hole on Saturday.

Turner came out scalding hot in Tuesday’s Game 1, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and scoring 18 points in the first half. He went quiet in the second half and overtime, only attempting three shots while most of the offense ran through Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. With Kristaps Porzingis unlikely to return before Game 4 on Monday, Turner is well-positioned to make some things happen offensively. However, he has to be consistently aggressive for that to be the case. Game 2 is on Thursday night in Boston.

After blocking two shots total in the series’ first two games, Turner turned things up a notch as far as the rim protection was concerned. He had at least two in the final five games, capping his run with a four-block effort in Game 7. Add in the efficient offense, and this was a series Turner that take added confidence from heading into the Eastern Conference Finals. With Boston unlikely to have Kristaps Porzingis for the first two games, Turner establishing his presence in the middle would go a long way toward helping the Pacers win a game in Boston.

Following their 30-point loss in Game 5, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle described his team’s effort as “embarrassing.” The players took those words to heart, maybe none more than Turner. Isaiah Hartenstein, who grabbed 12 offensive rebounds in Game 5, was his assignment in that loss, and the longest-tenured Pacer was much better on Friday night. In addition to throwing down a few thunderous dunks, Turner led the Pacers in rebounds and did an excellent job of protecting the rim. He’ll look to do more of the same in Game 7 on Sunday afternoon.

To begin the third quarter, Turner got hot, hitting three 3-pointers to trim the Pacers’ deficit to seven points. That was as close as Indiana would get, as the Knicks’ improved defense and dominance of the offensive boards were too much to overcome. New York grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, nine fewer than Indiana’s total rebound tally. Turner struggled with Isaiah Hartenstein, who corralled 12 offensive boards, and that will have to change for Game 6 on Friday night. New York holds a 3-2 series lead.

Turner and the Pacers were dominant throughout Game 4, as they picked up the win to even the series at two games apiece. He didn’t miss a shot from the field while recording a full stat line, including three blocked shots. Outside of Game 2, Turner has played well in his matchup with Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein. The ability to step out beyond the 3-point line makes Turner a problematic matchup for Hartenstein, who appears more comfortable in drop coverage than playing at the level. Myles will look to build on Sunday’s performance in Game 5 on Tuesday night in New York.

Turner had his best all-around game of the series on Friday, as he surpassed the 20-point mark and recorded a double-double. The ten rebounds he corralled in Game 3 were one more than his total in Games 1 and 2, and he was also more of a deterrent at the rim (three blocks). While most of the focus ahead of Game 3 was on Tyrese Haliburton, and rightfully so, the Pacers also need a more consistent Turner on both ends of the floor. He played well on Friday and will look to do more of the same in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.

Indiana heads home trailing two games to none, but they should be encouraged by Toppin’s play in the Big Apple. After scoring 12 points in Game 1, he tallied 20 more in Game 2 and has reached double figures in six straight. Toppin’s play on Wednesday helped the Pacers on a night when they got little from Myles Turner (six points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot). Indiana’s bench dominated the first two games, outscoring New York by a 46-12 margin in Game 2. The series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Friday night.