The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 125-108 to advance to the NBA Finals. Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 31 points, while Tyrese Haliburton contributed 21 points and 13 assists. Obi Toppin also added 18 points.
The two teams fought in the first half, with the Pacers leading 58-54 at halftime. Indiana began the third quarter with a strong 9-0 run, which gave them some breathing room. However, the Knicks weren’t done yet; they responded with an 8-0 run of their own. Undeterred, the Pacers quickly answered with another 9-0 run, effectively securing their victory.
OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points, while Karl Anthony Towns contributed 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 19 points, but it wasn’t one of his better performances. He faced intense pressure from the Pacers’ guards all night, which impacted his shooting; he finished with 8-of-18 from the field and 2-of-7 from three-point range.
Following significant criticism regarding the minutes played by Knicks players, head coach Tom Thibodeau decided to expand his rotation for Game 6. Unfortunately, this change did not work in the Knicks’ favor, as the Pacers’ bench outscored them 34-20. Former New York Knicks player Obi Toppin led the Pacers’ bench with 18 points.
The Indiana Pacers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, which begin this Thursday. This marks the second time in the history of both franchises that they have reached the Finals. The Pacers previously lost to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in the 2000 NBA Finals, with a series score of 4-2. Similarly, the Thunder were swept in the 2012 NBA Finals by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, losing all four games.
About The Author
