Donte DiVincenzo prods Pacers' identity, calls out Myles Turner: 'You're not a tough guy'
Donte DiVincenzo, summed up: "You ain't that guy, pal."
The Knicks and Pacers Eastern Conference semifinals series has gotten progressively chippy, with multiple technical fouls handed out and scuffles breaking out on Tuesday night. The Knicks ultimately came away with a 121-91 win in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. While there's been plenty of offense in the series, there's been even more of it after the whistle.
Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo and Pacers big man Myles Turner got into it in the third quarter of Game 5 after a collision, which led to both teams being separated by officials. Lipreaders caught DiVincenzo voicing some choice words to Turner during the fracas.
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After the game, the Knicks guard explained the dust-up, his issue with Turner and called out the Pacers' attitude in the process.
"They're trying to be tough guys, that's not their identity," DiVincenzo told reporters after the game. "There's nothing more to that. I just don't – I don't agree trying to walk up on somebody ... Nobody's gonna fight in the NBA. Take the foul. Keep it moving. You're not a tough guy. Just keep it moving."
The flames were stoked after Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Jackson were involved in a second-quarter scuffle following a hard screen that sent DiVincenzo to the floor. Multiple technical fouls were doled out to both squads after the dust-up. The Knicks would control the scoreboard – and the intensity – from that point on.
This leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals shifts back to Indiana on Friday night. The home teams are undefeated in the series. It's unclear who's up on the judges' scorecards.