<\/p>\n
Tony Bradley hadn\u2019t played much for the Pacers in the postseason at that point last year, and he wouldn\u2019t play in the Eastern Conference finals until the second game, but he still watched as Tyrese Haliburton\u2019s last-second heave stunned the Knicks<\/a> by forcing overtime in Game 1.<\/p>\n And Bradley saw how that draining result \u2014 the Knicks\u2019 double-digit lead late in regulation evaporated completely \u2014 carried over into the next game that Indiana won, too. <\/p>\n That\u2019s why Bradley, now a backup center for the Hawks facing the possibility of an expanded role this series, knows the importance of stealing that first game to \u201cset the tone,\u201d which Atlanta will have the chance to do at the Garden when the first-round series opens Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s very important to hit them in the mouth first,\u201d Bradley told reporters in Atlanta on Thursday, while adding that the Knicks were \u201cfor sure\u201d demoralized by Haliburton\u2019s shot.<\/p>\n