The Indiana Pacers are heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time since the year 2000, delivering a commanding 125-108 win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The triumph capped off a 4-2 series victory and sent ripples through the league, confirming Indiana’s return to basketball’s biggest stage.
The heartbeat of the Pacers’ run? None other than Pascal Siakam. The seasoned forward was crowned Eastern Conference Finals MVP after a scintillating 31-point performance that included three rejections on the defensive end. Siakam, now in his ninth season, proved the difference-maker with a blend of poise, power and playoff pedigree — scoring 30 or more in three of Indiana’s four wins.
This playoff run marks a defining chapter in the Pacers’ resurgence. With Rick Carlisle at the helm, Indiana has embraced its youthful core, balanced by experienced leadership. Siakam’s arrival has clearly been transformative, bringing championship experience from his 2019 title run with the Toronto Raptors and anchoring a team that continues to defy expectations.
Next up: a Finals showdown against the Western Conference champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The series tips off Thursday and promises a clash between two franchises that have built through smart drafting, fearless youth, and a refusal to bow to traditional powerhouses.
But before looking ahead, this win deserves full focus.
The game itself was decided in the third quarter. After a tight opening period where Indiana edged ahead 25-24, and a narrow 4-point lead at the break, the Pacers returned from the locker room with fire in their veins. A 9-0 scoring burst to open the second half broke open the contest and ultimately broke the Knicks’ spirit. New York never recovered.
Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ floor general and All-Star leader, delivered an all-around masterclass: 21 points, 13 assists, and three steals. His chemistry with Siakam has grown game by game, and in this clincher, it was on full display. Bench production also proved pivotal, with Obi Toppin pouring in 18 points and maintaining tempo when the starters took a breather.
For the Knicks, the night marked the end of an inspired postseason journey. OG Anunoby was their top scorer with 24 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 22, but it wasn’t enough. New York was plagued by turnovers — 18 in total — and simply couldn’t find a rhythm when it mattered most.
Despite some moments of promise in the first half, the Knicks struggled to contain Indiana’s transition game and precision ball movement. When the Pacers increased their pace in the third, New York faltered under the pressure.
For Indiana, the contrast to last season could not be more profound. One year ago, the team found itself in a similar spot and let the opportunity slip away. That failure has clearly become fuel. Haliburton alluded to the collective determination that carried them over the hump, and now, they’ll need every ounce of that resolve as they prepare to battle for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
What makes this Finals run so compelling is how complete Indiana has become. The defensive presence of Myles Turner, the spark of Bennedict Mathurin, and the adaptability of players like Andrew Nembhard have all clicked into place. But at the centre of it all stands Siakam, proving that championship DNA isn’t just a cliché — it’s a catalyst.
As the basketball world turns its attention to the Finals, one thing is clear: the Indiana Pacers are no longer a team of the future — they’re very much a team of the present.
