The Pacers Flatten the Knicks, Advancing to the NBA Finals
Indiana Pacers triumph over New York Knicks, advancing to face Oklahoma City Thunder in their first playoff encounter since the year 2000.
In an emphatic 4-2 series victory, the Indiana Pacers snatched the Eastern Conference Finals from the New York Knicks, securing their spot in the NBA Finals for the second time in history with a commanding 125-108 win.
Siakam MVP Shines Brightly
Pascal Siakam, named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, scored 31 points and snagged 5 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton contributed 21 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals, while Obi Toppin added 18 points and 6 boards. The Pacers shot impressively, with an astonishing 54.1% field goal percentage and a scorching 51.5% from three-point range. They forced 17 turnovers, compensating for their rebounding deficiency.
For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while OG Anunoby led scorers with 24 points. The Knicks missed the presence of Jalen Brunson, who put up 19 points.
Pacers Face the Thunder in the NBA Finals
The Pacers will square off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals starting next Thursday, who eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals. This will be the Pacers' first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, when they were defeated by the Lakers. Interestingly, they reached those Finals, their sole appearances in history, after defeating the Knicks 4-2 in the East.
This time, they've bested the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference playoffs. The series against the Knicks was intense, as the Knicks had not reached the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. They ousted the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, but ultimately fell to the Pacers.
The Lesson of Game Five
Game Six was a high-stakes affair, with the Knicks playing under the pressure of a win-or-go-home scenario, while the Pacers sought to avoid a seventh game in New York. The Pacers took advantage of the lessons learned from the previous game, increasing the defensive pressure to force turnovers. At halftime, the Pacers led by 16 points, with Andrew Nembhard draining debut five steals in the first half.
A Stellar Third Quarter Secures the Series
The first quarter ended 25-24, and the halftime score stood at 58-54 in favor of the Pacers. The Pacers' lead never exceeded 6 points in the first half. However, the second half was a different story. The Pacers started with a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 67-54. Two missed foul shots by Karl-Anthony Towns led to an Aaron Nesmith three-pointer. The third quarter was pivotal, with the Pacers leading 92-77 by the end of the third quarter.
The Knicks trimmed the lead to 9 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the closest they had been to the Pacers all game. The fourth quarter became a shootout, with each passing minute drawing the Pacers closer to the NBA Finals.
With a triple by Nembhard at 4:22, the Pacers established a 19-point lead, prompting Thibodeau to call a timeout. From there, the Knicks appeared to lose hope. A long triple by Haliburton sealed the series, crowning the Pacers as Eastern Conference champions and sending the Gainbridge Fieldhouse into a frenzy, with Caitlin Clark watching from the front row.
In the nail-biting Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers applied the lessons from their previous game by intensifying defensive pressure, resulting in forced turnovers. This led to a comfortable lead of 16 points at halftime for the Pacers. The pivotal third quarter saw a 92-77 score in favor of the Pacers, and despite the Knicks' efforts, the Pacers clinched the series with a 125-108 win, securing their spot in a fierce battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, where they aim to break their 22-year-old winning drought, having last won in 2000.
