As in the West between the Wolves and the Nuggets, there will be a Game 7 between Indiana and New York! It will be Sunday evening at 9:30 p.m. French time! With their backs to the wall but in front of their fans, the Pacers put out the game they needed on both sides of the floor to give themselves a chance to secure qualification in a dry match at Madison Square Garden this Sunday. Behind a diligent Haliburton-Siakam-Turner trio, lieutenants TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin also shone.
Miles McBride first responded to Andrew Nembhard’s three baskets with an impeccable 3/3 from distance and a lay-up in transition to put the Knicks in the lead (15-17). Donte DiVincenzo took over with two arrows from behind the arc, then Precious Achiuwa with two baskets from close range, resisting the assaults of the local “second unit” led by the McConnell-Jackson-Toppin trio (29-30).
The Pacers regained the lead with another big dunk from Obi Toppin (35-33) and gradually distanced their opponent, helped by their good defensive sequences. There were good passages from Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and a wild Myles Turner with 9 points including a huge “tomar” to fuel a terrible 17-2 and briefly turn to +13 before the break (61-48) .
Jalen Brunson wakes up too late
Indiana was able to maintain its lead after returning from the locker room, thanks to 3-pointers from Andrew Nembhard and Tyrese Haliburton twice, to a Pascal Siakam still valuable for his efficiency, until a new hot shot from TJ McConnell, concluded with an acrobatic tap to bring the score to 88-72.
The late awakening of Jalen Brunson will therefore not have been of much use for the Knicks, quickly relegated to -20 at the start of the last act on a 3-pointer from the corner of Andrew Nembhard on the counterattack after a scotch by Myles Turner on Isaiah Hartenstein (99-79). The furious dunks of Obi Toppin and Myles Turner made it possible to put on a show until the end and conclude in style a one-sided match, won 116 to 103.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Pacers defense. Rick Carlisle’s men made the difference at 17-2 fueled by the repeated positive defensive sequences of his collective, offering fast play and easy points to the Pacers. The intensity in defense is where Indiana made the difference, winning the rebound battle (47 shots to 35) but also with 8 blocks, not to mention the defense of the Nesmith-McConnell tandem on Jalen Brunson. By holding the Knicks to 21 and 24 points in the second and third quarters, the locals were able to distance themselves. As a symbol, it was on a counter from Myles Turner that Indiana then went to +20.
– Josh Hart hit. The Knicks Ironman was hit in the abdominals, asking to go out three times before giving up. A first time after taking a position on the rebound but without apparent contact with Pascal Siakam. He then joined the bench a second time at his request 6 minutes from the end of the third quarter, visibly again in too much pain. He returned three minutes later to finally leave for good and go directly to the locker room at the start of the fourth quarter. After Bojan Bogdanovic, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robisnon, it’s starting to add up.
– Indiana still undefeated at home. Six games, six victories, this will remain the record of the Pacers at home after two rounds of playoffs. With this new success, the Indiana players remain the only team still in the running not to have conceded the slightest setback at home in this 2024 edition. All that remains is to win at Madison Square Garden this Sunday to see Gainbridge Fieldhouse again before October.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
