The Indiana Pacers secured their spot in the NBA Eastern Conference finals with a decisive 130-109 victory over the New York Knicks, setting the stage for a clash with the Boston Celtics.
Achieving their first road win of the series, the Pacers wrapped up a 4-3 series win at Madison Square Garden, marking their first conference finals appearance in ten years.
Tyrese Haliburton led the scoring with 26 points, supported by Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard, who each contributed 20 points. The team’s remarkable 67.1% shooting accuracy set a new NBA playoff record.
For the Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo’s nine three-pointers and 39 points stood out, while Jalen Brunson added 17 points and nine assists before a broken left hand forced him out in the fourth quarter.
Despite previous struggles on the road, the Pacers dominated the first half, hitting 29 of 38 shots for a 76.3% shooting percentage, leading 39-27 after the first quarter.
Haliburton reflected on the Pacers’ unexpected victory, saying, “We were not expected to win these games. We just came out, played free and had fun.”
The Knicks attempted a comeback with an 8-2 run at the end of the second quarter, but the Pacers maintained a 70-55 lead at halftime. The Knicks narrowed the gap to six in the third quarter, but the Pacers’ defense, with nine blocks and seven steals, held firm.
The Knicks’ hopes for a conference finals berth, which they haven’t achieved since 2000, were dashed by two costly turnovers and Brunson’s exit due to injury.
The Knicks’ roster was already depleted, missing key players like Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic. Coach Tom Thibodeau acknowledged the team’s effort, stating, “Guys gave everything they had, and that’s all you could ask.”
In the Western Conference, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets faced a critical game seven against the c, with the winner set to meet Dallas in the conference finals. Anthony Edwards, at 22, has been a standout performer in the playoffs, aiming to lead his team to their second Western Conference finals appearance.
Reported By BBC Sports
