The Indiana Pacers, after a stellar offensive season, showcased their firepower in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 points as the Pacers set an NBA playoff record by shooting 67.1% from the field, defeating the New York Knicks 130-109 on Sunday. This victory advanced Indiana to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a decade.
“We have a historic offense obviously, but this guy got things rolling and everybody kind of just followed suit,” said center Myles Turner, pointing toward Haliburton.
During the regular season, the Pacers averaged 123.3 points, the sixth highest in league history, and set an NBA record by scoring 140 points in 11 games. Their offensive prowess continued in the playoffs, with the team making 29 of 38 shots in the first half, a 76.3% shooting percentage, the highest since the NBA began detailed play-by-play tracking in 1997. Leading 70-55 at halftime, Indiana maintained control despite New York’s efforts to close the gap in the second half.
“I just told our team when you win a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden, you’ve made history,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
The No. 6-seeded Pacers will face top-seeded Boston starting Tuesday. Indiana last reached the conference finals in 2014, losing to Miami.
The Knicks faced numerous injuries, with Jalen Brunson leaving in the second half due to a broken left hand. They had OG Anunoby back for Game 7 after he missed the previous four games with a strained left hamstring, but he was removed after just five minutes.
Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard each added 20 points, and Aaron Nesmith was perfect from the field, scoring 19 points on 8-for-8 shooting for the Pacers.
Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 39 points, making nine 3-pointers. New York, aiming for its first conference finals since 2000, struggled without key players like Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic, and eventually lost Anunoby and Brunson.
“Knowing that this team gave its best effort all year long, I can live with the result,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s disappointing, but in the end there’s only going to be one happy team. Twenty-nine teams will fall short. This team fought like crazy and there’s no regret.”
Brunson finished with 17 points and nine assists, shooting 6 for 17, after scoring 40 or more points five times this postseason. Alec Burks added 26 points off the bench.
This marked the third Game 7 between the franchises, with the Knicks winning in the 1994 Eastern Conference finals and the Pacers claiming victory in the 1995 East semifinals. Indiana’s 39-point first quarter was the highest in a Game 7 since detailed play-by-play records began.
“I think it’s just the old-school way of thinking that you can’t play this fast in the playoffs, but I think opportunistically you can do it. I think if we’re able to get stops, of course we can,” said Haliburton, sporting a sweatshirt featuring Reggie Miller’s famous choking sign from a playoff game at MSG.
Indiana’s efficiency was evident as they hit 10 of their first 11 shots, maintaining high shooting percentages throughout the game. The Pacers led 39-27 after the first quarter, shooting 76.2% from the field and 77.8% from 3-point range. They continued with 76.5% shooting in the second quarter, extending their lead to 22 points.
The Knicks cut the deficit to 70-55 at halftime and then to 73-67 early in the second half. However, turnovers allowed Indiana to regain control and extend their lead to 84-70. Josh Hart, playing through an abdominal strain, fouled out with 10 points and eight rebounds for New York.
