The Indiana Pacers, fueled by Pascal Siakam’s efficient scoring and a strong three-point attack, hold a narrow 58-54 halftime lead over the New York Knicks in a physical Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31.
Seeking to close out the series at home and advance to the NBA Finals to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers leaned heavily on Siakam, who poured in 16 first-half points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.
Myles Turner added 9 points, hitting 2-of-3 from deep, as Indiana connected on a sweltering 53.3% (8-of-15) of their three-point attempts. Tyrese Haliburton orchestrated the offense with 8 points and 6 assists.
The Knicks, fighting to force a Game 7 back in New York, were led by OG Anunoby’s 14 points.
Anunoby erupted for 12 points in the second quarter alone, capped by a buzzer-beating jumper that cut the deficit to four.
Mikal Bridges added 11 points and Jalen Brunson chipped in 10, though both Brunson (4-of-10) and Karl-Anthony Towns (3-of-10, 8 points) struggled with their efficiency.
Mitchell Robinson provided a strong interior presence with 6 points, 7 rebounds (5 offensive), and a block.
The first half was characterized by intense physicality, with both teams working hard for every basket. This led to frequent foul calls – the Pacers committed 11 personal fouls and the Knicks 8 – drawing some frustration from the home crowd who felt the whistle slowed the game’s pace.
Obi Toppin was notably effective defensively for Indiana, while Anunoby’s high motor stood out for New York.
Indiana built their lead primarily through the three-ball and capitalized on Knicks’ miscues, scoring 16 points off 10 New York turnovers.
While the Knicks dominated second-chance points (10-5) and points in the paint (28-24), their cold shooting from deep (3-of-11, 27.3%) proved costly.
A Haliburton fast-break dunk ignited the crowd late in the half, and Indiana closed the second quarter on a 7-4 run, setting the stage for a crucial second half.
The Pacers look to secure their Finals berth, while the Knicks aim to overcome the halftime deficit and extend the series.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Prham at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more NBA news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
