Pacers Defeat Knicks, Advance to First NBA Finals Since 2000

Twenty-five years after Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose led the Indiana Pacers to their first NBA Finals look, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam have taken the torch — and delivered.

The Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 125-108 in Sport 6 of the Japanese Convention Finals on Saturday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, punching their ticket to the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise historical past. It’s the primary time the Pacers have ever clinched a Finals berth on their house courtroom, they usually did so in entrance of 17,274 gold-clad followers, a number of Pacers legends, and nationwide celebrities.

They’ll now face the Western Convention champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, with Sport 1 set for Thursday at Paycom Middle.

Pascal Siakam Named ECF MVP After Dominant Collection

Pascal Siakam got here prepared to shut the collection out 💪

31 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 3 BLK pic.twitter.com/84lLDg36Yy

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 1, 2025

Veteran ahead Pascal Siakam, who was acquired in a blockbuster deal in January 2024, was named the Larry Hen Japanese Convention Finals MVP. The three-time All-Star completed Sport 6 with 31 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal, going 10-of-18 from the sector, 3-of-5 from deep, and 8-of-11 from the road. It marked his third 30-point sport of the collection — all Pacers wins.

“I am only a younger child from Cameroon that moved to the U.S. when he was 18 years outdated and gave the whole lot to the sport of basketball,” Siakam mentioned. “I simply work each single day. I do not cheat the work. Regardless of good video games [or] dangerous video games, I am within the health club. I care concerning the sport of basketball, and I wish to be as nice as I can.”

By means of six video games in opposition to New York, Siakam averaged 24.8 factors on 52.4% capturing (50.0% from three), with 5.0 rebounds and three.5 assists per sport. He introduced championship expertise, defensive versatility, and unwavering confidence — attributes that helped shift Indiana from an upstart to a professional title contender.

“[We] introduced in a champion, man,” mentioned 10-year Pacer Myles Turner. “Somebody who needed to work his means up. He is a G League champion, G League Finals MVP, and clearly the All-Star appearances. Somebody who’s seen the highs and lows. That’s who you need going into battle.”

Haliburton’s Second of Validation

YES ‘CERRRRRS

— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 1, 2025

All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton as soon as described himself as a child who simply needed to really feel seen. On Saturday evening, he stood at heart courtroom with a convention championship hat on and the admiration of a franchise and fanbase that has embraced him fully.

“It means loads,” Haliburton mentioned. “This can be a franchise that took an opportunity on me, noticed one thing that different folks didn’t see in me. Generally I believe they noticed extra in me than I noticed in myself… I like being a Pacer. There’s nothing prefer it.”

Haliburton posted 21 factors, 14 assists, and 6 rebounds within the Sport 6 victory, with 11 of these factors coming within the fourth quarter to shut the door on the Knicks. He additionally drilled a 32-foot three-pointer within the remaining minute earlier than head coach Rick Carlisle emptied the bench.

“He’s been like a giant brother to me,” Haliburton mentioned of Siakam. “Any person I can actually belief, someone I can actually speak to and lean on, someone who can all the time hold me regular.”

Carlisle added: “I’m so happy with Tyrese… He simply stored his head down and stored working. It’s lots of stress, being that primary man. He’s completed a terrific job composing himself and displaying up when it issues probably the most.”

Balanced Assault, Defensive Id Gas Sport 6 Win

Indiana’s system in Sport 6 was emblematic of the id it has solid over two grueling playoff runs. Seven gamers scored in double figures, the Pacers shot 54.3% from the sector, they usually knocked down 17-of-33 from three (51.5%).

Off the bench, Obi Toppin had 18 factors and 6 rebounds in opposition to his former staff. Thomas Bryant added a playoff career-high 11 factors and hit three three-pointers. Andrew Nembhard stuffed the stat sheet with 14 factors, eight assists, and 6 steals — practically tying the franchise playoff file.

Defensively, the Pacers compelled 18 New York turnovers and turned them into 34 factors.

“We simply have lots of guys which are dedicated to that defensive id,” Siakam mentioned. “We all know we are able to rating… However so long as we’re dedicated to getting stops, that’s what’s gonna take us to a different degree.”

Carlisle echoed the sentiment: “The fellows co-signed on the significance of protection. And all people participated within the development.”

Milestones, Recollections, and the Second

The second wasn’t misplaced on anybody.

This was Indiana’s tenth look within the Japanese Convention Finals since 1994 — tied with Boston and Miami for probably the most over that span — however simply the second time the Pacers will play for a title. The gang stayed on its ft for a lot of the ultimate quarter, chanting “IN-DI-AN-A” with Turner main the call-and-response postgame.

“When the buzzer was sounding, I simply [felt] nothing however pleasure,” Turner mentioned. “Simply pure pleasure. Simply pure validation. Simply all of the years, all of the hate, all of the love, the whole lot in between — simply made a lot sense in that second.”

The sector was stuffed with symbolism. Miller, who known as the sport on TNT’s remaining NBA broadcast, offered the Bob Cousy Trophy to Pacers proprietor Herb Simon. Jalen Rose, Miller’s teammate on the 2000 Finals staff, was courtside. So have been Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Anthony Richardson, Pat McAfee, and a cross-section of Indiana sports activities royalty.

“It’s a particular feeling to do it with this group,” Haliburton mentioned. “We bought to the identical spot final yr, fell brief. And we simply labored our tails off as a bunch to get again right here… I’m simply actually happy with the resilience of this group.”

The Journey That Constructed This Workforce

Indiana’s rise to the NBA Finals wasn’t unintended — it was meticulously constructed over years.

Drafting Turner eleventh total in 2015. The low-key signing of T.J. McConnell in 2019. The hiring of Carlisle (once more) in 2021. The Haliburton blockbuster in 2022. The Siakam swing in 2024. Trades for Toppin, Nesmith, Nembhard, and Sheppard. Lottery picks spent on Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker. A staff molded by President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard with persistence, calculation, and perception.

“You do not know once you’re gonna get this once more,” Siakam mentioned. “I believe we’ve got to have the mindset of going on the market understanding it is a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.”

The final time the Pacers reached the Finals, Haliburton was three months outdated. Nembhard and Nesmith have been additionally born in 2000. 5 present gamers — together with Mathurin, Sheppard, Walker, Furphy, and Isaiah Jackson — weren’t born but.

And nonetheless, this younger group carries the burden of the franchise’s previous with them. Over the course of the playoffs, everybody from Jermaine O’Neal to Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Travis Finest, and Dale Davis has returned to help the present squad.

“We simply stored pushing,” Haliburton mentioned. “This can be a actually particular group. I’m grateful that I’m doing it with these guys.”

What’s Subsequent

The Pacers will face the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, a 68-win powerhouse led by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and an elite protection. Sport 1 is Thursday, June 5 in OKC. Sport 2 is Sunday, June 8, earlier than the collection shifts to Indianapolis for Video games 3 and 4 on June 11 and 13.

Indiana is 4 wins away from its first NBA championship.

“This isn’t a shock to any of us,” Haliburton mentioned. “Internally we had expectations to be right here.”

And now they’re. On the most important stage in basketball.