The Indiana Pacers surged past the New York Knicks with dominant third and fourth quarters, sealing a 125-108 Game 6 victory and eliminating them for the second straight postseason with a 4-2 series win on June 1.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Tyrese Haliburton 21 PTS | 6 REB | 13 AST | 55.7 FPS
Haliburton had a slow start but turned it around in the fourth quarter, scoring or assisting in 8 of their first 10 field goals. He finished with his fourth game this series with at least 20 points and double-digit playmaking performance. He’s been highly productive in the matchup and led his team in rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers made. But he will be put to test against the Thunder, he’s been less impactful against them in the last two seasons, averaging 12 points and 8.5 assists in four games.
Pascal Siakam 31 PTS | 5 REB | 3 BLK | 51.5 FPS
Siakam was on fire again, dropping his third 30-point game of the series in another explosive performance. He came out swinging with 11 points in the second quarter, then completely took over in the third with another 10. He was unstoppable in transition, helping the Pacers to a +15 edge in fastbreak points. Offensively, he was very effective in this series—shooting 52% from the field and 50% from three. He has also made his presence felt on defense, racking up 3+ stocks in back-to-back games. His dominant play not only earned him Conference Finals MVP honors but also helped the franchise reach the Finals for just the second time. The Pacers will continue to count on him to carry that momentum into the Finals.
Andrew Nembhard 14 PTS | 8 AST | 6 STL | 49.6 FPS
Nembhard has struggled badly on offense in the last three games and carried the slump in the first half, with just 4 points. However, he made up for it on defense, recording 5 steals and 1 block, all while dishing out 5 assists. He’s very capable of putting up solid numbers but consistency has been a problem. However, he’s done an excellent job against the Thunder this season, averaging 7 rebounds, 7 assists and nearly 20 points in two outings.
Obi Toppin 18 PTS | 6 REB | 3 BLK | 33.2 FPS
Toppin stepped up big in the fourth, dropping 8 points and recording 2 blocks as the Pacers routed the Knicks. It was his second playoff game—and 12th this season—with at least 18 points. He had a strong all-around performance earlier this year on the road against the Thunder, and the Pacers are going to need that same energy from him in the Finals if they want a real shot at the championship.
Thomas Bryant 11 PTS | 3 REB | 1 BLK | 17.6 FPS
Bryant returned to the rotation after Bradley got injured in Game 4, and he made the most of it today, going 3-for-4 from three-point range while also providing good defense. His impact will be big against a Thunder team with a deep and talented roster. However, their defensive frontcourt will likely be too much for him.
New York Knicks Top Performers:
OG Anunoby 24 PTS | 2 STL | 2 BLK | 45.5 FPS
Karl Anthony-Towns 22 PTS | 14 REB | 2 AST | 42.8 FPS
Mitchell Robinson 8 PTS | 9 REB | 2 BLK | 28.8 FPS
Mikal Bridges 15 PTS | 4 AST | 2 BLK | 26.2 FPS
Landry Shamet 12 PTS | 4 3PM | 2 AST | 15.0 FPS
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Jalen Brunson 19 PTS | 8-18 FG | 5 TO
