In a win-or-go-home seventh game, the No. 6 Indiana Pacers stunned the No. 2 New York Knicks on the road, shooting an incredible 67.1% to win, 130-109, and earn their spot in the Eastern Conference. Finals against the number one Boston Celtics.
The Pacers were 1-5 on the road in these playoffs heading into Game 7, but that didn't matter from the start of this game. The Pacers were knocking down everything they had on their offensive end, finding open looks and emptying buckets. By the end of the first quarter, they had made 16 of their 21 shots, including seven of nine from three-point territory to take a 39-27 lead.
But this was not a quarter of the wonder. Indiana continued to heat up from the field to the point where they finished the first half up 15 points, shooting 76% from the field. It was the best playoff mark for a shooting half in the last 25 years.
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Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball while being guarded by Precious Achiuwa of the New York Knicks during the first quarter of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 19, 2024. (Elsa/Getty Images)
That's the kind of performance you want to see from your team on the road in a must-win game to keep the season alive, and it was Pacers stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam who got the job done.
Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range on the day. He was walking and certainly talking too, as he was seen confidently pointing and talking to Knicks players and celebrity fans in the front row of Madison Square Garden.
Siakam was also very efficient, hitting 8 of 15 field goals for 20 points with four rebounds.
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Meanwhile, the Knicks didn't get the Game 7 performance they expected from Jalen Brunson, who was 6 of 17 from the field for 17 points. And to make matters worse, he couldn't play the entire fourth quarter after suffering a fracture in his left hand.
Injuries have devastated the Knicks throughout the postseason. Josh Hart and OG Anunoby were questionable heading into this game, but both would start. Anunoby, who has been out since Game 2 with a hamstring injury, hit both of his shots in the first quarter for five points and played just under five minutes. But he was clearly limping and didn't play the rest of the game.
Hart played his usual minutes, but struggled shooting, going 3-for-9, including 0-for-4 on 3-pointers. He also had eight rebounds and five assists.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks appears before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 19, 2024. (Elsa/Getty Images)
While the Knicks saw some big scoring off the bench in veteran Alec Burks (26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), the Pacers' depth was once again on full display in the form of point guard TJ McConnell. He made 6 of 8 field goals for 12 points with seven assists as the Knicks once again had no answer for his quick attacks and sneaks at the line. Isaiah Jackson also added nine points for the Pacers.
Each starter would finish in double figures, as Aaron Nesmith was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field for 19 points, Myles Turner was 7-of-11 for 17 points, and Andrew Nembhard was 8-of-10 with 20 points.
For the Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo was doing everything he could to cut the Pacers' lead, which ended up down to six at one point in the third quarter. But it was in vain.
DiVincenzo finished with a game-high 39 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 9-of-15 on 3-pointers.
The Pacers caught fire at just the right time in this series, especially after head coach Rick Carlisle said it was embarrassing how they got beat at MSG in Game 5. They answered the bell in Game 6, and despite another Wild Knicks crowd started this. game, they silenced it very quickly with an incredible offensive performance that gives them a big boost heading into the conference finals.
Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers appears during the first quarter of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 19, 2024. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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Indiana hopes to continue its playoff streak against the Celtics, who defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in their second-round series.
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