NEW YORK – There was great anticipation Sunday to produce a historic match at Madison Square Garden. Absolutely so, but no one could have expected it.
Improbably and unexpectedly, in a Game 7 road situation, the Indiana Pacers had one of the best shooting halves in the 77-year history of the NBA. When the stunned New York Knicks tried to make a push back in the second half, the Pacers superstar and his super backup stepped in and dealt the final blows.
The result was a 130-109 victory for the Pacers, eliminating the Knicks by completing four wins in five games after trailing 2-0 in the series. The Pacers will now head to Boston to open the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics on Tuesday.
The Pacers ended up shooting 67.1% for the game, the highest field goal percentage for a playoff game in NBA history. And that was after they calmed down in the second half.
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To add to the Knicks’ misery, but unfortunately in keeping with what happened to them in the series, star Jalen Brunson suffered a broken left hand during the third quarter. When his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, returned to the dugout after receiving the news in the locker room, he could only hold his head in his hands, the theme of the day for the Knicks.
It was already a tough day for Brunson, who was just 6-of-17 shooting for 17 points before exiting. Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who had played two tepid, non-impact games in New York during the series, hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter alone, injecting momentum into his team and inspiring endless confidence.
After each one, he began barking at anyone within reach, be it fans, Knicks players (particularly Donte DiVincenzo), and even the ether. With each success, the Pacers seemed more relaxed and, more importantly, allowed them to set up their pressure that has bothered the Knicks throughout the series.
Haliburton finished with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting.
In the first Game 7 at the Garden since 1995, the atmosphere was explosive. The situation escalated when forward OG Anunoby emerged from the locker room tunnel for pre-match warm-ups, returning earlier than expected from a right hamstring injury. But it was immediately clear that it was a questionable decision to allow him to play.
Anunoby could barely run and the Pacers couldn’t help but notice. They immediately attacked him, going to Pascal Siakam for an easy basket on the first possession and hitting four hoops in a matter of minutes. He made two jumpers as Knicks fans began chanting for a Willis Reed moment, but the Knicks simply couldn’t let him stay on the court.
He was out for good after less than five minutes and the Pacers had shaken off their nerves. Their offense flowed with players taking jumpers with ease and launching shots from everywhere and at every angle. Siakam scored 15 of his 20 in the first half, Haliburton scored 16 and Myles Turner scored 10 of his 17. The Pacers shot an incredible 76.3% in the first 24 minutes (29 of 38) and 75% from range. 3 points. (8 of 12). They made 20 of 25 jumpers. They missed as many shots in the paint as they did beyond the arc.
It was the best shooting half in a playoff game on record, surpassing the San Antonio Spurs‘ 74% shooting during the 2014 Finals in a performance that left some thinking it was one of the best offensive basketball displays of the season. history. And the Pacers overcame it.
The Knicks made a push in the third quarter, largely thanks to a series of three-pointers by DiVincenzo (37 points). He finished with nine of them for the game, setting a new Knicks playoff record. Those and some rare defensive stops cut the Pacers’ lead from 22 points to seven and made Knicks fans think they might see something to remember after all.
That’s when Pacers coach Rick Carlisle sent out valuable reserve guard TJ McConnell. He instantly calmed down the Pacers and started making plays. He helped force three Knicks turnovers, had two assists and two baskets. He was the catalyst for a 15-4 run that reestablished the Pacers’ control of the game.
Alec Burks scored 26 points off the bench for the Knicks. Josh Hart, who played with an abdominal strain, received a standing ovation after fouling out in the fourth quarter.
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