Knicks’ Miles McBride hopes to hold Tyrese Haliburton scoreless in Game 6: ‘I’ve got to go up a level’

INDIANAPOLIS — For Miles McBride, the goal is to take it up a level.

Sure, he was successful in his first career playoff start, not just with 17 points in the Knicks’ Game 5 victory back at Madison Square Garden, but also with relentless, hounding defense on Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Haliburton, who scored 34 and 35 points in Games 2 and 3 followed by 20 points in 28 minutes of the Pacers’ Game 4 blowout victory, mustered just 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-of-4 shooting from deep under McBride’s defensive pressure in the Knicks’ 30-point victory in Game 5 on Tuesday.

That’s 13 more points, however, than McBride would have liked to give up. Thirteen more points than he hopes to concede as the Knicks attempt to put the Pacers away and close this second-round series in six games.

“I think I’ve got to go up a level. We do as a whole team,” the third-year guard said after morning shootaround at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday. “I think if we do things the same way, we might not get the same result if you don’t go up a level.”

What does he mean by go up a level?

“I think looking at film: Obviously he didn’t go scoreless, and he was still impactful in a way,” McBride explained. “So my goal is for guys to go scoreless and to make as minimum of an impact on the game.”

It’s a tall order, much easier said than done checking one of the more elite talents the NBA has to offer at the guard position.

Haliburton was named to Team USA’s 2024 Paris Olympic roster. He thrives in space and pace and, aside from a two-of-six stinker in Game 1 at The Garden, had been on a scoring roll against the depleted Knicks.

That was until head coach Tom Thibodeau moved McBride into the starting lineup over Precious Achiuwa, who he initially tabbed as the starter to replace the injured OG Anunoby. The decision was met with sweeping praise, and McBride helped turn the tide at home after the Pacers evened the series at two games apiece on their own home floor.

“Obviously his defensive tenacity [helps our starting unit],” said veteran forward Josh Hart. “His ability to space the court and knock down shots and he’s another playmaker. He allows us the ability to run and gives our defense an added boost.”

The Knicks know, however, that Haliburton is a different player on the road than he is at home, though during the regular season, he averaged two more points and shot the three ball 5% better away from home.

In the playoffs, the Pacers’ playmaker has posted his five lowest-scoring games on the road, and the Knicks are anticipating a rejuvenated performance from the All-Star guard with his team facing elimination at home on Friday.

Which means more pressure on McBride, who’ll be defending Haliburton oftentimes the full length of the court for a chance to punch the Knicks’ ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals without having to return home for a must-win Game 7 at The Garden on Sunday.

“I haven’t talked to him. He knows what it is,” Hart said of McBride after morning shootaround on Friday. “He knows obviously he had a really good Game 5, and we always say one game doesn’t affect the other. So we know Tyrese is going to come home aggressive. They’re a different team at home. We know that going in, and we have to make sure that we throw that punch first and when they go on runs, being able to minimize that.”

McBride, of course, is ready for the challenge.

He’s earned Thibodeau’s trust by successfully defending his fair share of All-Star level guards this season.

Most notably, McBride was on Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry like a shadow in the Knicks’ 119-112 victory on March 18, where he helped hold Curry to just 8-of-20 shooting from the field while connecting on six of his nine attempts from deep for 29 points of his own.

McBride also had some success defending Tyrese Maxey in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers, though Maxey ultimately averaged a hair under 30 points for the series and erupted for 46 points in Game 5 at The Garden.

“A lot of times when you give guys those kind of top defensive assignments, it allows them to focus in better, focus in more, and it brings that competitive side out,” Hart said on Friday. “So they’re able to do that, and then offensively, that gets them going. Deuce is someone that, for a lot of top guards, we put on and have him compete as best as he can. It’s something we’re comfortable doing that and when he does that, offensively it kind of really gets him into a rhythm and into the game.”

McBride said he learned from the Maxey assignment in the first round.

“I think just not relaxing. I think the way they [All-Star guards] play, they’re always on attack mode,” he said. “And I think if you give them any little space, great players are going to take advantage of it. So just not relaxing. Being more ready.”

McBride believes the Pacers will make adjustments to free Haliburton from his defensive pressure in Game 6. He thinks Indiana will utilize more off-ball screening and cutting: “just a lot more movement just to get me off the body,” he said on Friday.

His goal remains the same. And while holding a premier scorer — a player Thibodeau refers to as “an offense unto himself” — without a basket may be a long shot, if McBride can come close to repeating his Game 5 performance in Game 6, the Knicks may very well advance on Friday.

“[I want to] make it as difficult as I can [on Haliburton],” he said. “Be disruptive, be aggressive, but understand that he’s a great player and he’s gonna be a lot more aggressive tonight, so being mentally ready for that.”