In an intense Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, theIndiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks116-103, evening the series at 3-3 and setting up a decisive Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. The victory maintained the trend of home teams winning every game in this series, with the last three being blowouts.
The Pacers, led by strong performances from Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner, took control early and never looked back. Siakam and Turner combined for 42 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, showcasing their dominance on both ends of the court. The Pacers out-rebounded the Knicks by 12 and outscored them in the paint, 62-38, demonstrating their physicality and intensity.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard also made significant contributions, each scoring 15 points. Haliburton added nine assists, while Nembhard chipped in with six rebounds and six assists. The Pacers’ balanced attack and relentless energy proved too much for the injury-riddled Knicks.
New York’s Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 31 points, rebounding from a shaky start to keep his team in the game. Miles McBride added 20 points, and Donte DiVincenzo contributed 17. However, the Knicks were hampered by injuries to key players, including Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic. Josh Hart, who appeared to hurt his abdominal muscle in the first quarter, played just 31 minutes and was largely ineffective.
The Pacers established their dominance early, taking a 42-41 lead on Haliburton’s second three-pointer of the game. A 16-7 run helped Indiana build a 61-48 halftime lead, and they never trailed again. The Knicks made a push in the second half, cutting the deficit to 61-56, but consecutive threes from Nembhard and Haliburton rebuilt Indiana’s lead, and the Knicks never seriously threatened again.
Garden Rematch: Knicks and Pacers set for epic Game 7 showdown
Game 7 will mark the first time since 1995 that the Knicks host a decisive playoff game at Madison Square Garden against the Pacers, who prevailed in that memorable encounter. Both teams will be under immense pressure as they vie for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the need for execution and intensity, stating, “We’ve got to play harder, we’ve got to play with a greater level of execution. If you can’t come up with a ball and have level of possessions for the game, you’re not going to in the second round of the playoffs. We’ve got to do better, much better.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau echoed similar sentiments about focus and preparation, saying, “I think the most important thing is to not get lost in the hyperbole and the distractions and focus and lock into the task at hand, which is winning the game. So put the necessary work into it and don’t get lost.”
As both teams prepare for the highly anticipated Game 7, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Pacers will aim to continue their perfect postseason home record, while the Knicks hope to leverage their home-court advantage and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Fans can expect an intense and thrilling showdown at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
