INDIANAPOLIS — Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton played pivotal roles in steering the Indiana Pacers to an exhilarating 125-108 win over the New York Knicks, marking another historic moment for their fans in the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night.
Siakam scored 31 points while Haliburton, who notched 21 points, delivered 11 of those during the crucial fourth quarter, leading Indiana to a decisive 4-2 series victory. This triumph paves their way to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, a noteworthy accomplishment that has the fanbase reflecting on the team’s rich history. The Finals series commences this Thursday at Oklahoma City.
“Pascal and Tyrese carried us through and ensured we wouldn’t bow out,” noted Coach Rick Carlisle to a lively crowd, clad in gold and showing constant support through the final moments and the celebratory scenes thereafter. “But the journey isn’t over; our true tasks begin now.”
Siakam was awarded the Larry Bird Trophy as the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, a fitting parallel as Bird also led the franchise to the Finals as a coach. Tyrese Haliburton, with his 13 assists, complemented the efforts alongside Obi Toppin who contributed 18 points and six rebounds against his former squad.
In contrast, OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points, aided by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 19 points. However, the Pacers’ relentless defense proved problematic for New York, forcing them into committing 17 turnovers.
Coach Tom Thibodeau of the Knicks acknowledged the issues, stating, “We had periods of strong defense, yet also lapses. The turnovers considerably impacted us, combining flaws in our defense.” Nonetheless, this marks another year the Knicks bow out without reaching the finals, the last being in 1999.
The Gainbridge Fieldhouse buzzed with excitement, from a vibrant pregame atmosphere to the acknowledgment of retiring stars with just seconds left, capped by Reggie Miller presenting the Eastern Conference’s Bob Cousy Trophy to Pacers owner Herb Simon during the TNT broadcast, where Miller featured as a color analyst.
The matchup was intense, characterized by a physical approach that often deviated from the Pacers’ usually structured gameplay. With the likes of Towns grappling through fouls and Haliburton persevering through harsh plays, the stakes were evident from start to finish.
Indiana capitalized on the second half by jumpstarting with a 9-0 streak, followed by successive three-pointers from Thomas Bryant and Andrew Nembhard, sparking renewed cheering from a crowd that included notables like Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson, WNBA star Caitlin Clark, and celebrities Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.
Even as the Knicks pared down the margin, reducing it to a swayable 78-71, Indiana countered briskly with another 9-0 outburst, seizing their largest lead, ultimately compelling the Knicks into chasing their tails the remainder of the game.
“There is no occasion for celebration yet,” declared Carlisle, who previously secured a title while coaching the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. “Reaching this juncture means understanding it’s about two teams sharing one goal. It’s a do or die scenario, and our comprehension of this scale is complete.”