Pacers Outlast Knicks in Game 7, Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

New York, NY — The Indiana Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a dominant 130-109 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The sixth-seeded Pacers will face the top-seeded Boston Celtics, beginning Tuesday at TD Garden.

The Pacers’ victory was powered by a historic first half, in which they made 29 of 38 attempts, registering the highest shooting percentage in a postseason half since the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play stats in 1997. They led 70-55 at halftime and continued to fend off the Knicks with every surge they attempted.

Key Performers and Context:
Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 26 points.
Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard contributed 20 points each.
Aaron Nesmith was perfect from the field, scoring 19 points.
– For the Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo hit a Game 7 record nine 3-pointers and scored 39 points.

The Knicks, heavily impacted by injuries, were without Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, with OG Anunoby struggling to move after returning from a hamstring strain. Jalen Brunson exited in the third quarter with a fractured left hand.

This marks the Pacers’ first conference finals appearance since 2014. Spike Lee, a prominent Knicks supporter, was seen dejected as the Pacers’ social media team capitalized by posting a clip of him after the game.

The Celtics, who have not faced significant injury issues in the playoffs, will enter the series rested after defeating the Cavaliers in five games. However, the status of Kristaps Porzingis remains uncertain as he recovers from a calf strain.

Defensive and Offensive Analysis:
– The Celtics’ top-ranked offense will challenge a Pacers’ defense ranked 24th in the regular season.
– Indiana’s fast-paced regular-season style has slowed during the playoffs, a possible tactical shift by coach Rick Carlisle.

The series will test the Celtics’ preparedness against a healthy opponent and determine if Boston can capitalize on their clear path to the NBA Finals.

Boston, MA — Game 1 tips off Tuesday at TD Garden, as the Celtics and Pacers compete for a chance to advance to the NBA Finals.