The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks in Game 6, 125-108. The Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, when they also beat the Knicks in six games. With New York heading home, that leaves many questions for the Knicks, who looked so promising after knocking off the defending champion Celtics. However, let’s recap last night’s game and then go over the outlook for both teams.
Game 6 Recap
The Pacers defeated the Knicks last night and won the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2. This game was tight through the first quarter. Every time the Knicks looked to take control, Indy would make small plays to get the crowd back into it. The story of last night, however, was in the second half. The Pacers would control the second half of last night’s game 67-54 and grow their lead to 21 with 1:52 left in the game. Tyrese Haliburton bounced back with a big-time performance, 21 points, 13 assists, and three steals.
To spotlight an individual player, Pascal Siakam dominated in Game 6. In his 36 minutes played, he scored 31 points on an efficient 10/18 from the floor, including 3/5 from downtown. Siakam would go on to win the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Andrew Nembhard did an excellent job guarding Jalen Brunson. His six steals were a big reason the Pacers’ transition game was so successful. Indy forced 17 turnovers, and they scored 34 points off those turnovers.
Knick Miscues
Outside of the turnovers, the Knicks struggled to break through screens and were also hindered by the Pacers’ constant pressure. Whether it was off a make, a miss, or a turnover, Indiana played to their style from the opening tip. Despite a nice statistical performance, Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t up to par last night. He finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds.
However, he shot 8/19 from the floor, 0/4 from three, and 6/10 from the free-throw line. KAT was also horrendous at the defensive end of the court, constantly getting lost in pick-and-roll coverage and unwilling to defend the rim at times.
Jalen Brunson also was brutal last night. He scored a series-low 19 points and shot 8/18 from the floor. He was sensational in Game 5 and equally as dreadful when their season was on the line. If this team wants to take that next jump and make the NBA Finals, it starts with their stars.
Outlook for New York and Indiana
New York took a big swing last offseason in trading for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT). That didn’t pan out this season. With it being the first season with those two in the lineup, it would have been great for them to at least make the Finals. However, there were bound to be growing pains, and this, unfortunately, is how teams build their chemistry. There isn’t much room to maneuver when it comes to additions to the roster. With the nucleus of the team already in place, they should continue to grow and improve next season.
As for the Pacers, they have had a successful season regardless of the outcome of the Finals. They have a challenging task ahead, going against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, they have been the underdog in back-to-back series. If they can continue to play at their pace and steal home court, which they have done in their last two series, it’ll be interesting to see if they can pull off another upset. This team has been on an upward trajectory for the past three seasons, and it’s been great to see their growth.
Final Thoughts
The Eastern Conference Finals surprised me in some respects and impressed me in others. I thought the Pacers would struggle against the Knicks’ long-wing defenders, but it was the complete opposite. Indiana would get whatever they wanted whenever they wanted it. The Knicks were on such a high after knocking off the defending champion Celtics; now they have an offseason to figure out how to get over the hump. The Pacers will look to pull off the upset of the season against the 68-win Thunder in the NBA Finals.
