Pacers try to wrap up Eastern Conference finals at home after blowing chance against Knicks on road
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) strips the ball from New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) scores against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reacts during the third quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final against the New York Knicks, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11), forward OG Anunoby (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Cameron Payne (1) react during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11), forward OG Anunoby (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Cameron Payne (1) react during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) strips the ball from New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) scores against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reacts during the third quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final against the New York Knicks, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11), forward OG Anunoby (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Cameron Payne (1) react during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers wasted one chance to wrap up the Eastern Conference finals.
They don't intend to let it happen again.
On Saturday, two nights after an uncharacteristically poor performance on the road, the Pacers will get their second shot to clinch the franchise's second NBA Finals appearance, at home against the New York Knicks.
Advertisement
'They played better than us, and I just think we've been an amazing team all year at bouncing back,' Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said after Thursday's 111-94 loss. 'Our strength has been being together, fighting hard together, staying together no matter what. Nobody had us being here — right now we're up 3-2 in the conference finals.'
They've certainly exceeded expectations.
Indiana finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, despite starting 10-15, and then eliminated Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee in the first round for the second straight season before sweeping three road games to eliminate top-seeded Cleveland in five games.
No NBA team has been more proficient in bounce-back games lately than the Pacers. They haven't lost consecutive contests since March 10 and of the eight teams to make the conference semifinals, three share the distinction of fewest losses with four — Indiana, Western Conference champion Oklahoma City and the Cavaliers.
Advertisement
How good has Indiana been at overcoming challenges? They erased deficits of eight or more points in the final 50 seconds of regulation or overtime in two victories, something that happened only one other time since 1997-98.
Now the Pacers have a chance to replicate a feat Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson and their teammates achieved 25 years ago — beating the Knicks in six games to reach The Finals. There's just one difference: Those Pacers clinched at Madison Square Garden.
But there are also questions about what the Pacers must fix after producing their lowest scoring total of the postseason, the litany of bad passes that resulted in 20 turnovers and failing to close out a series on their first chance, something they succeeded at in their last four series wins. Two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton knows what to expect.
'They're going to come out and play hard, increase the pressure, do whatever they've got to do to win,' he said. 'They did a great job of that (Thursday). Now it's on us to respond in Game 6. When you get here, to this point, there's no such thing as surprises; you've got to be prepared for everything.'
Advertisement
It likely means seeing more of the same from New York, which plugged Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup, expanded its rotation and saw Karl-Anthony Towns drive to the basket more often in each of the past three games.
The combination delivered the Knicks' first two wins despite Towns playing with a sore left knee. Their only loss during that stretch came courtesy of Haliburton's historic Game 4 stat line of 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds and four steals with no turnovers.
New York's defense responded by limiting Haliburton to eight points and six assists in Game 5, and while Towns realizes duplicating such a performance in front of a hostile crowd eager to celebrate will be tough, he also understands the Knicks don't have a choice.
'We have to,' he said. "We have no more room for error. Our backs are against the wall and every game is do or die so if we don't bring that energy, we don't bring that execution, our season will be over.'
Advertisement
The good news for New York is it has been equally resilient throughout the season and playoffs, demonstrating it again by rallying from losing the first two games of this series at home just to force Game 6.
But both teams face pressure.
New York heads home Saturday night win or lose — either for a second straight Game 7 against the Pacers at Madison Square Garden or the start of a long offseason.
'Very proud of what we did, and we just have to replicate it in the first quarter of the next game and then continue to build on that,' All-Star guard Jalen Brunson said.
Indiana, meanwhile, would rather earn perhaps the biggest win in the franchise's NBA history on its home court than give the Knicks a third chance.
Advertisement
'We understand what the stakes are,' Haliburton said. 'We understand the conversation that will be around our group. But we're fine. There's no need to panic. It's a tough loss. But I think the great, great part of this group and our staff is everybody's addicted to film study and (seeing) where we can get better. The proof will be in Game 6.'
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
13 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Yankees' Max Fried continues to make case to start the All-Star Game after reaching 10 wins
CINCINNATI (AP) — Aaron Boone still has a couple weeks before deciding who will be the American League's starting pitcher for the All-Star Game. It could end up being one of his own players. Max Fried became the first pitcher to reach 10 wins this season in the New York Yankees 7-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. 'It's down the road. We'll see. He's making the case though,' Boone said about Fried's chances to start the midsummer classic on July 15 in Atlanta. The left-hander allowed one unearned run and four hits while striking out seven to improve to 10-2. Fried is the third Yankees pitcher since 1962 to be the first in the majors to reach double-digit victories, joining CC Sabathia in 2011 and Tommy John in 1979. 'I guess it's cool but we're all here just trying to win games. A lot of it is credit to my teammates. It's nice, but that's more of a team stat than an individual one,' said Fried about reaching double digits in wins. Fried signed a $218 million, eight-year contract with the Yankees last December and has excelled in his first year in pinstripes. He quickly became the staff's ace after Gerrit Cole was lost for the season during spring training due to Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Fried has four games this season where he has gone at least seven innings and not allowed an earned run, tied with Detroit's Tarik Skubal and San Diego's Nick Pivetta for most in the majors. He's second in the majors with a 1.92 ERA and 108 innings. 'Ever since (Cole) went down he's shown us why they paid him what they paid him and why he's the guy we thought he was going to be. Especially someone who I played against for four or five years, to play behind him now is amazing,' third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. 'I always give him his prop and his flowers, but now he can take them any time he wants.' The 1.92 ERA is the third-lowest by a Yankees' pitcher is his first 17 starts with the club since earned runs became an official stat in both leagues in 1913. Fried has allowed two or fewer earned runs in all but two starts. He has been even more dominant after Yankees' losses, going 8-1 with a 0.93 ERA in 10 starts. 'I mean 10 wins in half a season, it's not easy to do in any era, especially now. But that's just a testament to how good and efficient he's been,' Boone said. 'Whether it's coming off a loss or extending a streak, his consistency has been great. 'I told him again today 'just watching you more and more, I would not have wanted to hit off you.' He's got so many weapons out there and there's just so much movement to all his pitches, he's been terrific.' Fried getting the start in the All-Star Game would carry more importance after he played eight seasons in Atlanta before coming to New York. Fried though knows that decision remains a couple weeks away. 'I've got a handful of starts to go before the break. A lot can happen between now and then. Just focused on the next one in five or six days. I will deal with it when it gets here,' he said. ___ AP MLB:
The Hill
29 minutes ago
- The Hill
North Korea opening a tourist site on its east coast next week that's key to its tourism hopes
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea next week will open a signature tourist site on its east coast that it called a prelude to a new era in its tourism industry, though there is no word on when the country will fully reopen its borders to foreign visitors. The Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone has hotels and other accommodations for nearly 20,000 guests who can swim in the sea, play sports and other recreation activities and eat at restaurants and cafeterias on site, state media said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the site and cut the inaugural tape at a lavish ceremony Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. He said its construction would be recorded as 'one of the greatest successes this year' and called the site 'the proud first step' toward realizing the government's policy of developing tourism, according to KCNA. The Wonsan-Kalma zone will begin service for domestic tourists next Tuesday, KCNA said. But it didn't say when it will start receiving foreign tourists. Kim has been pushing to make the country a tourism hub as part of efforts to revive the ailing economy, and the Wonsan-Kalma zone is one of his most talked-about tourism projects. KCNA reported North Korea will confirm plans to build large tourist sites in other parts of the country, too. But North Korea hasn't fully lifted the travel curbs, including a ban on foreign tourists, that were imposed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting from February 2024, North Korea has been accepting Russian tourists amid the booming military and other partnerships between the two countries, but Chinese group tours, which made up more than 90% of visitors before the pandemic, remain stalled. In February this year, a small group of international tourists visited the country for the first time in five years, but tourist agencies said in March that their tours to North Korea were paused.
Indianapolis Star
32 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Six players the Pacers could target in the NBA Draft second round
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers didn't have a first-round pick Wednesday's NBA Draft after trading it last week to the Pelicans to retrieve their 2026 first-round pick. However, Wednesday evening, they traded back into the draft to get another second-rounder, acquiring the No. 38 pick from the Spurs for a second-round pick from 2030 and cash. That means the Pacers have the No. 38 and No. 54 overall pick in the second round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. The Pacers could potentially use those picks for any type of players. If they re-sign center Myles Turner, they will return key players from their NBA Finals run at every position and they have enough depth that they might not necessarily need anyone they draft to play right away. However, with All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton likely to miss all of next season thanks to an Achilles tendon tear, they could use some depth at each spot. They will need a third point guard behind Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell, who will handle the job in Haliburton's absence. Bennedict Mathurin will likely move into the starting lineup at shooting guard, so the Pacers could use a wing to backfill that move and they could also use perimeter shooting with Haliburton having led the team with 218 3-pointers in 2024-25. And the Pacers could go in a number of directions for depth at center, and the draft is one of them. With that in mind, here are six players the Pacers could target with Round 1 in the books. The 6-10, 235-pound Broome was the only other unanimous Associated Press first-team All-America pick along with NBA No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and helped lead Auburn to its second Final Four in school history. The 22-year-old Broome obviously doesn't have anywhere near Flagg's ceiling, but he has the frame, athleticism and motor to be a very effective backup center or power forward in the NBA. Broome averaged 18.6 points per game as a fifth-year senior, making 55.9% of his 2-point shots including 78.6% of his field goals at the rim according to He led the SEC in rebounding (10.8 per game) and blocks (2.1 per game) to earn SEC Player of the Year honors. He also averaged 2.9 assists per game, showing excellent feel for the game as a passer out of the post. He's not a great outside shooter, making just 30.2% of his career 3-pointers including 27.8% (25 of 90) in his fifth year. However, his motor on defense and at the glass and ability to score around the rim and pass should be enough for him to make an impact as a backup center and he should be game-ready to step in behind Turner or share minutes with Isaiah Jackson or Thomas Bryant if the Pacers decide to keep one of them. The 6-7, 210-pound Watkins blossomed in his last two years at Florida State after starting his career at Virginia Commonwealth, averaging 15.6 points per game as a junior and 18.4 as a senior to earn All-ACC honors. He has some offensive inefficiencies, shooting just 32.1% from 3-point range this season. However, he's a strong ball-handler and creator and perhaps most importantly for the Pacers, a long-armed, switchable defender. His wingspan is nearly 7-feet and he has a 37-inch vertical leap, so he can keep ball-handlers in front of him and rebound well for his position. He averaged 1.9 steals and 6.0 rebounds per game as a junior. He could give the Pacers a fourth multi-positional wing option off the bench behind Ben Sheppard, Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy. The Pacers could use another player capable of handling the point beyond Nembhard and McConnell who could still serve a purpose after Haliburton returns. Jones fits that bill, having operated both as a shooting guard next to Tyler Kolek and then a starting point guard at Marquette. Jones can create off the bounce for himself or for others, and is an excellent passer and rim finisher. He averaged 17.2 points per game as a junior, but then as a senior Kolek went to the NBA, Jones averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists per game, career-highs in both categories. The 6-4, 185-pounder is a strong defender, willing to pick up ball-handlers full-court, and he averaged 1.4 steals per game as a senior. He is a streaky shooter. He made 40.6% of his 3-pointers as a junior but just 31.1% as a senior. He's been strong as a spot-up shooter but not as accurate shooting off the dribble and if the Pacers need him to handle the ball off the bench, that might be an issue. But he can give the Pacers another creator and pressure defender and as a third point guard, that's plenty. The Pacers might be able to wait until No. 54 to get Andrew's younger brother, but they might not considering how well he played at the NBA Draft Combine, following in his older brother's footsteps. Like Andrew, Ryan thrives by doing whatever his team requires and by making his teammates better. He led Division I in assists with 9.8 per game against just 2.5 turnovers per game, and he put pressure on the ball, averaging a West Coast Conference-leading 1.7 steals per game. After earning Big East Rookie of the Year honors at Creighton to start his career, Nembhard was named first-team All-West Coast Conference in each of his last two seasons at Gonzaga. He won at least one NCAA Tournament game in each of his four seasons, helping Creighton to the Elite Eight as a sophomore and Gonzaga to the Sweet 16 as a junior. One thing Ryan doesn't have that Andrew does have is size. While Andrew is listed at 6-5, 195 pounds, Ryan was measured at 5-11 without shoes at the NBA Draft Combine and 176 pounds. The lack of size will make it difficult for Ryan to defend multiple positions the way Andrew can, but he can run an offense and pressure the ball and that could give him a chance to make an NBA team and possibly the Pacers. The 6-7, 218-pound Thiero followed John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas and broke out as a junior from Fayetteville. He averaged 15.6 points per game, more than double the 7.2 per game he averaged as a sophomore at Kentucky, but more importantly he established himself as one of the top wing defenders in the class. He's powerfully built with lateral quickness and good hands and a 7-foot wingspan, and that combination led to 1.6 steals per game in his junior year. Whoever lands him will certainly want to see better outside shooting from him as he made just 11 of 43 3-pointers this year (25.6%) and 21 of 74 for his career (28.4%). But his defense should be enough to get him on the floor as a second-unit wing. The 7-1, 235-pound Kalkbrenner's dominating length could make him an elite-level rim protector, not to mention an excellent lob finisher. He led the Big East in blocks in each of the last three seasons and field goal percentage the last four. He made 65.8% of his career field goals including 69.6% of his 2-point shots and averaged 2.4 blocks per game in his career including 2.7 per game this year.
