The New York Knicks were looking to hold off the Indiana Pacers and send the series to a seventh game. This wouldn’t happen as the Pacers clinched a Finals berth with a dominant Game 6 performance.
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The two teams battled hard in the first half, as no team really had the advantage. After one half of play, the Pacers held a slim 58-54 lead.
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In the third quarter, the Pacers got a surprise boost from reserve Thomas Bryant. He scored eight points while grabbing two rebounds in the third.
It was more than just the points for Bryant. He brought an energy that significantly helped the Pacers while getting the crowd involved.
Indiana’s defense gave New York all sorts of fits, helping the Pacers outscore the Knicks 34-23 in the third. The Knicks would not bow down, however, as they began the fourth by scoring the first six points of the quarter.
On this night, the Pacers weren’t going to blow the game. Indiana took over, proving they were the best team in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers took a 21-point lead at one point in the fourth, all but ending the game. Indiana has won the series 4-2, clinching their berth to the Finals with a 125-108 victory.
Tyrese Haliburton, who has been the star all series, scored 21 points while adding 13 assists. The winner of the Eastern Conference Finals MVP was Pascal Siakam, who scored 31 points to lead the Pacers.
The Pacers will now have to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. They will have an uphill battle to win their first title, but these Pacers are certainly up to the challenge.
