Unlike in Game 1 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks did not suffer a historic late-game collapse in Game 2 on Friday.

Like in Game 1, they lost to the Pacers, 114-109, at Madison Square Garden, leaving them in an 0-2 hole in the series with the next two games in Indianapolis.

Some takeaways from another late, maddening night for Knicks fans:

The Knicks have leaned on their starting five all season, but those five have gotten outscored consistently by opponents of late when they are on the floor together.

There is no disputing the fact the Knicks look better when Mitchell Robinson and Deuce McBride are on the floor. Robinson was a huge factor in Game 2, especially in the first half.

But that brings its own set of problems, such as when opponents intentionally foul Robinson, a poor free-throw shooter, to put him on the line in key situations.

On Friday, things went fully haywire when Cam Payne started the fourth quarter in place of Jalen Brunson in what then was an 81-81 game.

By the time Brunson entered the game with 9:00 left, the Knicks were down nine.

Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns left with 9:00 remaining and did not return until 2:25 was left.

“We got in a hole,” Thibodeau said of not using Towns. “The group that was in there gave us a chance, so just riding that, just searching for a way to win.”

Seeing Towns on the bench for that long in the final quarter was a shocker. But in fairness, the Knicks were outscored by 20 points when Towns was in the game.

The Knicks outscored the Pacers by six points when Robinson was in the game.

So again, it’s complicated. But right now, with the season slipping away, Thibodeau is searching for answers.

So much of the talk before the series centered on the Pacers’ deep, versatile roster. Turns out it was not just talk.

In Game 1, Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers’ late comeback with a barrage of three-point baskets.

In Game 2,  Pascal Siakam scored a career playoff-high 39 points, even while often being guarded by elite defender OG Anunoby, a former teammate of Siakam’s in Toronto.

Siakam joined the Pacers in the middle of last season.

“That's why we brought him here,” Tyrese Haliburton said. “It’s what he's here to do. He can get a bucket in so many different ways. He started the game hot. We just kept feeding him.”

Said Siakam: “Whatever was out there, I just took it. I think what makes us special as a team is we have different weapons. We're not consumed with who's going to do what.”

In theory, losing the first two games of a series at home is as bad as it gets. But is it? The Knicks’ slim chances of coming back in the series might actually benefit from a trip to Indianapolis.

They are 3-5 at home and 5-1 on the road in this year’s playoffs.

“The whole year we played well on the road,” Josh Hart said. “We played well on the road in the playoffs. That’s a tough place to play. Their crowd comes and shows love and support. But we’re a good road team. That always gives us confidence.”