The Indiana Pacers will face the Boston Celtics in the NBA Eastern Conference finals after beating the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It is the first time the Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference finals in 10 years, but they will face a tough test against the Celtics. The Minnesota Timberwolves fought back from 20 points down to shock the Denver Nuggets in Game 7.
The Indiana Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a decade with a comfortable 130-109 win against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Tyrese Haliburton top-scored for the Pacers, finishing with 26 points, while Donte DiVincenzo was unlucky to be on the losing side after registering 39.
The Knicks took a 2-0 series lead with back-to-back wins at The Garden, but the Pacers made it 2-2 before the teams traded victories in games five and six to set up the decider.
Mavericks fightback to clinch Game 6 against Thunder and reach Western Conference finalsMavericks fightback to clinch Game 6 against Thunder and reach Western Conference finals.
The Pacers will now face the Boston Celtics for a place in the NBA Finals after they reached their third consecutive Eastern Conference finals with a 4-1 series win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Eastern Conference finals get underway at the TD Garden in Boston on May 21, with the winners set to face either the Dallas Mavericks, the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Denver Nuggets.
Haliburton was delighted to finally beat the Knicks on the road.
“It is an unbelievable environment, it was just a great game from top to bottom for us,” said Haliburton.
“Backs against the wall, we hadn’t won on the road all series but we just found a way.
“We are just trying to have fun, we understand that we are not expected to win these games, especially here on the road in Game 7, like you said we don’t have a lot of experience so we just had fun.”
Haliburton was sensational as the Pacers took a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
He capped a great start to the game with a 24-foot step-back jump shot that helped his team take a 39-27 lead into the second.
The Knicks improved after the break, but Pascal Siakam impressed as the Pacers managed to extend their lead to 70-55, finishing the game with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The visitors maintained the pressure in the third, taking a 101-84 lead into the final quarter of the series.
DiVincenzo was inspirational as the Knicks tried to conjure a miraculous comeback, but it was not to be.
Siakam believes confidence was key in Game 7.
“We knew that a couple of times we got close, we just got a couple of bad quarters in those games,” added Siakam,
“We knew it was Game 7, we just had to bring the energy.
“They did awesome, I felt coming in early I wanted to give everyone confidence.
“I thought everybody came out with so much energy, that is what we are, we are a team. So, we just have to keep that going.”
TIMBERWOLVES SHOCK NUGGETS IN GAME 7 THRILLER
The Minnesota Timberwolves roared back from 20 points down to shock the Denver Nuggets in a dramatic Game 7 and reach the Western Conference finals.
The defending champion Nuggets looked in control as they led 53-38 at half-time and then 58-38 in the third quarter.
But the Timberwolves went on a 32-9 run to turn the game around as they pulled off the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA playoff history as they won 98-90.
“It shows who we are,” said Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards after the game.
“Once we really lock in on the defensive end, man, we’re a hell of a team to beat.”
The Nuggets are the fifth straight defending champion to fail to reach the conference final.
Jamal Murray, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr were a combined seven of 28 from three-point range.
The Timberwolves scoring was led by 23 points each from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels.
They will face the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals starting on Wednesday evening.
It is the first time the Timberwolves are in the finals since 2004.
“I just want these guys to understand, I don’t think they understand what they just did,” said Minnesota’s Mike Conley.
“Accomplishing what they have and getting to the West Conference finals is a great opportunity. Don’t take it for granted. Celebrate the moment now, but be ready to go. You have another team waiting for you. Everybody’s in the way of your goals, so you have to be ready to go.”