Pascal Siakam led the Indiana Pacers to a 116-103 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Myles Turner added 17 points and eight rebounds. The win evened the series at 3-3, setting up a decisive Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Indiana, determined to match New York’s intensity and physical play, outrebounded the Knicks 44-37 and even held a slight edge on offensive rebounds, bouncing back from a 30-point blowout loss in Game 5. Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each contributed 15 points, with Nembhard also recording six rebounds and six assists, helping the Pacers maintain their perfect 6-0 home playoff record.
Jalen Brunson led the short-handed Knicks with 31 points, with Deuce McBride scoring 20 and Donte DiVincenzo adding 17. However, Josh Hart left the game in the fourth quarter due to abdominal soreness. The Knicks, who have lost nine straight playoff games in Indiana, will now have a chance to bounce back at home in Game 7. Despite the loss, New York has played better at Madison Square Garden, making this final game of the series highly anticipated. The Pacers demonstrated a new level of hustle and energy in Game 6, scooping up loose balls and converting them into points early in the game, leading to a halftime advantage. They maintained control throughout the game, never trailing the Knicks after the first quarter.
The Pacers’ strong start in Game 6 set the tone for the rest of the contest, as they pulled ahead to a 61-48 halftime lead and built on that advantage in the second half. Although Brunson sparked a comeback attempt for the Knicks, bringing them within five points, Nembhard and Haliburton responded with key 3-pointers to extend the lead once again. The Knicks struggled to mount a serious challenge, and the Pacers cruised to victory, securing their sixth straight home win in the postseason. With Game 7 looming, both teams will focus on preparing for what promises to be a closely contested and high-stakes final matchup. The series, which started with three consecutive single-point games, has now seen three consecutive double-digit victories.
New York faced significant challenges in Game 6 due to injuries, with key players like OG Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanovic, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson all sidelined. Anunoby, who has been out since injuring his hamstring in Game 2, remains the only player with a chance of returning for Game 7. Coach Tom Thibodeau noted that Anunoby has been working on his recovery but is still limited to light activity. Despite the absence of key players, the Knicks have shown resilience throughout the series, relying on the remaining roster to step up and deliver strong performances. As the teams prepare for the final showdown, fans and analysts are eagerly anticipating the outcome of Game 7, which will determine which team advances to the next round of the playoffs.
