The Indiana Pacers outmuscled the New York Knicks on Friday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, forcing a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference semi-final series. Pascal Siakam led the way with 25 points, which the likes of Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton added to with strong performances. Jalen Brunson contributed 31 to the Knicks’ effort, but wasn’t enough to stop Rick Carlisle’s side.
The Indiana Pacers levelled their NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals series against the New York Knicks 3-3 to force a Game 7 after a 116-103 win on Friday.
The series now heads to Madison Square Garden for the first Game 7 there since 1995.
Pascal Siakam scored 25 points to lead an all-around impressive effort from the Pacers group. Myles Turner contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell all scored 15 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Jalen Brunson’s 31 points, 26 of which were scored in the second half, weren’t enough to take a series-winning victory, with the rest of the Knicks side not contributing enough to get the job done.
Replacing Precious Achiuwa with Miles McBride may have given Brunson more spacing, but it made the side smaller and Siakam consequently took advantage of that with 17 of his points coming in the paint or from the free throw line.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle tore into his team and the referees after their 30-point loss in Game 5 in New York, and his young side paid him back on Friday night.
In Game 5 they lost the rebound battle by 24 and turned the ball over 18 times. In Game 6, they outmuscled the Knicks on rebounds by 12 and halved their turnovers.
“Coaches challenged our effort, I think that was the biggest thing,” said Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
“We played harder tonight, which was a must,” said coach Rick Carlisle.
“We moved the ball better and we got more rebounds.
“In a series like this, you can’t sit around patting yourself on the back. We’re going to keep our celebrations very short, if at all, and get ready for Sunday.”
The Knicks’ woes were compounded by an injury to Josh Hart with what was said to be abdominal soreness, leading to him asking to be taken out of the game after holding his midsection numerous times in the game.
Despite that, he played almost 40 minutes and managed eight rebounds, but he was far from the impactful player he’s been for much of this series.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t offer a postgame update on Hart, but teammate Jalen Brunson told reporters: “I mean, I would assume he’s playing. It’s Game 7.”
“Knowing him, he’ll do whatever to play,” Isaiah Hartenstein added.
“If his leg’s not falling off, he’ll do whatever to play.”
After losing Game 3 to a final-quarter surge from the Pacers, there were concerns that the Knicks may be too tired and injured to survive a long series such as this.
Those worries were put to rest somewhat when they ran the Pacers off the floor in a 121-91 win in Game 5. But they will be tested again on Sunday, where they’ll need to dig deep to advance to the Conference finals.
Sunday’s Game 7 will be the first at MSG since 1995 when the Knicks fell to the Pacers in the second round of the playoffs.
The winners of Game 7 will take on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals starting on Wednesday, one step away from the NBA finals starting on June 6. The top-seeded Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 in the semi-final to book their place in next week’s series.
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