The locker room was nearly as empty as the Pacers’ spirits and Travis Best, his right thigh heavily taped, limped over to his corner stall. He looked to be in a lot of pain.

“It doesn’t feel good right now,” said Best, the seven-point, three-assist producing Pacer backup point guard, who exited yesterday’s dramatic 92-91 Knick Eastern finals Game 3 victory with 7:53 remaining after pulling his right groin. “How bad is it? Well, I couldn’t finish the game …”

But then, neither could the Pacers, who fell to a four-point play by Larry Johnson in one of the most spectacular finishes in NBA playoff memory.

Best has suffered groin pulls before – but he readily acknowledged the others he has suffered were on the left side and were higher in the groin than this one which has him listed officially as “day-to-day” by the team.