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Philippines, 03 Jun 2025 |
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Yes (Pa)Cers, It's Indiana in the NBA Finals, Smothers New York Knicks in Game 6, 125-108 By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Sun, 01 Jun 2025  Indiana Pacers are going to the NBA Finals again for the first time in 25 years. This after Indiana pulled away in the second half for a 125-108 victory over the hard fighting New York Knicks at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for a 4-2 Eastern Conference final series win. The Pacers will start their best of seven NBA Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday next week. OKC had earlier won the Western Conference championship in five games over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tyrese Haliburton came back from a poor game five performance to again lead Indiana's dominating clincher win over the Knicks even as he did not top the Pacers scoring. But his game high 13 assists and second half scoring outburst plus three steals were highly instrumental in Indiana breaking open an otherwise close contest. There were other heroes for Indiana. Pascal Siakam once again imposed himself in and around the paint on the offensive aside from helping on the defensive end particularly against Karl Anthony Towns and at times Jalen Brunson. Then there was Andrew Nembhard, overlooked for much of the past five games, who finally was able to somehow cuff the high scoring Brunson, even pulling a couple of steals off him; aside from scoring 14 points of his own. And then there was Obi Toppin who delivered from both in and outside when New York was threatening to close in at certain crucial junctures of the game. But the Pacer who fired up the team and initiated the breakaway was the seldom used Thomas Bryant who scored two successive three points shot midway through the third quarter that bolstered Indiana's double digit lead. To stay alive in the series, New York knew they had to hang on to Indiana's coattails and keep the scores close. That the Knicks were able to do in the first two quarters with the Pacers enjoying just a four points lead at half time, 58-54. With the Pacers defense posing difficulties to both Towns and Brunson, the Knicks went to OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges who somehow kept New York in the game. But once Indiana juggernauts got going starting the third quarter, it became apparent that the Knicks will play catch-up big time for the remainder of the match. This despite the said four players getting their usual double digits productions for New York. But that proved inadequate once the depth of Indiana's bench came to fore with seven Pacers scoring in double figures. Siakam led Indiana's scoring parade with 31 points. Haliburton, despite with just 3 points in the first half, finished with 21 points. Toppin contributed 18 points. Haliburton and Toppin topped the Pacers in rebounding with six each. Nembhard had 14 points plus 8 assists. Despite limited minutes, Aaron Nesmith contributed 10 points. Center Myles Turner before fouling out had 11 points, same as Bryant. Anunoby led New York with 24 points. Towns finished in double double with 22 points and game high 13 rebounds. Brunson was limited to 19 points and Mikal Bridges had 15 points. Reserve Landry Shamet came off the bench and scored 12 points but mostly when the outcome was already beyond doubt. Indiana will only be in its second NBA Finals. It lost to the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers in the 2000 season, 4 games to 2. The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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