The Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks will meet in the Eastern Conference semi-finals of the NBA playoffs. On Thursday, May 2, the two teams emerged victorious in their series against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, respectively. They will meet again on Monday May 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
If the Knicks qualified for the second round for the second consecutive season, the Pacers had not experienced the semis since 2014, the year they reached the Eastern Conference final.
Victory was decided by a thread in Pennsylvania. Or rather a winning shot from Josh Hart a little less than 26 seconds from the end, which allowed the Knicks to take control of Game 6 and never let go. Final score: 115-118.
After failing to eliminate their opponent in Game 5, ultimately losing at home (112-106), the New Yorkers started the match with a bang, going so far as to lead by 22 points shortly before the end of the first quarter. time.
But the 76ers regained control at halftime (54-51) and even recorded a 10-point lead in the third quarter. “They fought, took the lead, but that good start helped us,” said Jalen Brunson, who had 41 points and 12 assists.
Josh Hart finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, cheered by Knicks fans who made the trip to Philadelphia, as in Game 4 where Joel Embiid himself was heckled in his own enclosure. The 2023 MVP (“most valuable player”), whose season was disrupted by a knee injury, finished the game with 39 points, 13 rebounds and two assists.
The Bucks, champions in 2021, eliminated
After missing, like the Knicks, the opportunity to qualify for Game 5, the Pacers this time concluded their series 4-2, on their floor. Final score: 120-98.
Tyrese Haliburton achieved a double-double (17 points, 10 assists), but it was Obi Toppin who emerged as Indiana’s top scorer, with 21 points. The Pacers led by 12 points at halftime, before pulling away in the final quarter.
On the Bucks side, Damian Lillard, returning from a two-game absence due to injury, led his team with 28 points. Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis added 20 each but, still deprived of Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee did not find the solution.
The Bucks, champions in 2021, were eliminated after the first round for the second time in a row, after being beaten by Miami last year.
