Pascal Siakam contributed 31 points while Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points and 13 assists, leading the Indiana Pacers to a convincing 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6, marking the franchise’s second-ever appearance in the NBA finals.
Obi Toppin chipped in with 18 points and six rebounds against his former team, as the gold-clad fans erupted in applause when the starters exited the game with just 47.2 seconds remaining.
The Pacers are set to face the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 1 on Friday (AEST).
Tyrese Haliburton celebrates with the Bob Cousy Trophy. Getty
Leading the charge for the Knicks was OG Anunoby with 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson contributed with 22 points and 19 points, respectively. Towns also secured 14 rebounds.
The Knicks remain without a finals appearance since 1999, unable to prolong the contest in a match that was intense and physical from the outset.
From Towns limping after a foul to Haliburton clutching his jaw after a hard fall, the aggressive tone was established early and persisted throughout the game as both teams fought hard for victory.
The Pacers finally seized control early in the second half, starting with a 9-0 run that propelled them to a 78-63 lead, featuring three successive three-pointers.
This scoring surge electrified the crowd, which included notable personalities such as Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, WNBA star Caitlin Clark, actor Timothee Chalamet, and celebrity Kylie Jenner.
Caitlin Clark shows her support for the Pacers from the crowd. Getty
However, after the Knicks charged back with eight unanswered points to narrow the gap to 78-71, the Pacers replied with another 9-0 spurt, establishing their largest lead of the match, forcing the Knicks into a chase for the remainder of the evening.
Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was part of the Pacers team that made the finals in 1999-2000, provided commentary for TNT’s final broadcast of the series.
The Knicks were aiming to become the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit, having last claimed a championship title in 1973.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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