Pacers are in NBA Finals after defeating Knicks in Game 6

The Indiana Pacers have made it to the NBA Finals after dispatching the Knicks in Game 6, 125-108, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

Pascal Siakam, who had a game-high 31 points in Game 6, was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP. 

Indiana, who made it the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, wins the series 4-2 and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, which begins on Thursday in Oklahoma City. 

The Pacers took an early lead with a 58-54 advantage at halftime, and they further solidified their position in the third quarter. Starting with a 9-0 run, they quickly extended their lead to 13 points. By the end of the third quarter, the Pacers were comfortably ahead at 92-77.

Siakam, who had 10 points in the pivotal third quarter, scored 26 of his 31 points through the first three quarters, and Tyrese Haliburton took over in the fourth. Haliburton scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and he had four of his 14 assists in the final stanza.

Indiana had their largest lead of the game at 21 points in the fourth, and the job was complete.

The Pacers had seven players in double figures, including all five starters. Andrew Nembhard, who did a great job on Jalen Brunson, had 14 points, eight assists, and six steals, Obi Toppin added 18 points, and Thomas Bryant chipped in with 11 off the bench.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points; Karl Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Brunson added 19 points and seven assists.

Bottom Line:

Despite not playing the way they wanted to in Game 5, the Indiana Pacers showed remarkable resilience and played with more energy in Game 6.

For the Knicks, this series turned in Game 1. They had the game won, but they fell apart late and choked it away. The Knicks never rebounded from that game, and they have been fighting uphill since that loss.

All of New York will point to that game in the offseason, but in the end, the Pacers appeared to be the better team.

Going forward, Indiana will have to try to beat the best team in the NBA from start to finish, the Oklahoma City Thunder. That won’t be easy, but the Pacers will be tough out for anybody, including the Thunder.