The Indiana Pacers did not give the New York Knicks on Saturday for forcing a last game at the Madison Square Garden and liquidated the East Finals with a forceful 125-108 (4-2), thus managing to qualify for the NBA finals for the second time in their history.
Pascal Siakam, chosen 'MVP' of the East Finals, scored 31 points and caught 5 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton contributed 21 points, 6 assists and 3 robberies, while Obi Toppin added 18 points and 6 rebounds and Andrew Nembhard, which today was the shadow of Jalen Brunson, scored 14 points and stole 6 balls.
The Pacers launched over 50 %of success in both field shots (54.1 %) and in triples (51.5 %) and forced 17 losses with which they compensated for their weakness in the rebound. For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points and caught 14 rebounds, while Og Anunoby was the top scorer with 24. Those of New York missed Brunson's points, which stayed with 19.
The Pacers will play the NBA finals from next Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who got rid of the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in the finals of the West. They will be the first NBA finals for the Pacers since 2000, when they fell defeated 4-2 against the Los Angeles Lakers of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Interestingly, those finals, the only ones in their history, also arrived after defeating the Knicks 4-2 in the East.
This time, the Milwaukee Bucks of Giannis Antetokounmppo has passed to those who defeated 4-1 in the first round. Then the Cleveland Cavaliers of Donovan Mitchell -número 1 del Este- those who exceeded 4-2 in conference semifinals.
The series with the Knicks has been titanic, because the New York did not reach some Eastern finals since those of 2000. They got rid of the Boston Celtics semifinals, current champions, and made New York dream, which has woke up today.
A domain from beginning to end
Night of weight in Indianapolis. The Knicks played with the pressure of winning or dying, while the Pacers wanted to avoid a seventh game at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks had forced this sixth game after playing a very serious duel 48 hours before, solids in defense and avoiding losses with 3-1 below in the series. Today, the Pacers had part of the lesson learned. They raised the pressure to force and take advantage of losses.
At rest, the Pacers surpassed the Knicks 16-2 at points after losses. Andrew Nembhard was an Lapa for Jalen Brunson, with 5 robberies in that first half. However, New York became strong under the hoop, with 23 rebounds – including 5 Mitchell Robinson offensives – to Indiana. The first quarter ended 25-24. The first half 58-54. The maximum difference for the Pacers was just 6 points, for the 5.
The second half was another story. The Pacers started with a 9-0 partial to put 67-54. Karl-Anthony Towns was portrayed in the play that put the Pacers with a +10 for the first time when two free throws failed that would lead to a triple for Aaron Nesmith. Tom Thibodeau called his players rows. He did it again minutes later when the Pacers extended to +15 (78-63). That second time dead did effect and the Knicks signed a partial of 0-8 that gave them some air, but to which Indiana responded with a 9-0.
The Knicks cut 9 points at the beginning of the last quarter, it was the closest to the Pacers they were. The fourth became an exchange of baskets, which over the minutes approached Indiana to the NBA finals. With a triple from Nembhard to 4:22 they put themselves with a +19, at which time Tibodeau asked for a dead time from which the Knicks delivered to despair. It was useless. Tyrese Haliburton put a triple from almost 10 meters with which he crowned the East Champions Pacers and drove the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with Caitlin Clark in the front row.
