Caitlin Clark, Pat McAfee watch Pacers down Knicks. Here's all the celebs at Game 6
Caitlin Clark, Pat McAfee watch Pacers down Knicks. Here's all the celebs at Game 6
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Shaq gives thoughts on a possible Pacers-Thunder 'small market' Finals
Shaq joins Sports Seriously to give his thoughts on if a Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals would be too 'small market' for the league.
Sports Seriously
The Eastern Conference finals shifted back to Indianapolis for Game 6 on Saturday after the New York Knicks staved off elimination and defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 at home. However, the Knicks were unable to avoid elimination in Game 6, despite the many famous faces in the crowd attempting to will New York to a Game 7.
The Pacers defeated the Knicks, 125-108, in Game 6 to clinch the Eastern Conference finals series, 4-2. Indiana advances to its first NBA Finals since 2000, and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder for the league championship.
A contingent of Knicks superfans also made the journey from New York to Indiana for Game 4, when the Pacers took a 3-1 series lead over the New York on Tuesday. To add insult to injury, Knicks fans Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee and Ben Stiller received a less than warm welcome at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. ESPN personality and former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee gave the trio an expletive-filled lashing and encouraged Indiana fans to boo the stars. Hall of Fame singer-songwriter John Mellencamp was not a fan. (More on that below).
Did Lee, Stiller and Chalamet travel to Indiana again? Did Caitlin Clark show up at Gainbridge Fieldhouse? We got you covered. USA TODAY Sports tracked all the celebrities at Game 6 in Indianapolis:
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CELEBS IN NEW YORK: Spike Lee, Mariska Hargitay, more celebrate Knicks' Game 5 win vs. Pacers
MORE: John Mellencamp 'embarrassed' by Pat McAfee calling out Knicks celebrities at Pacers game
Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals brought out a variety of celebrities, ranging from former Knicks and Pacers players (Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Jalen Rose) to comedians (Mike Epps), actors (Timothée Chalamet) and world-class athletes (Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Anthony Richardson and Reggie Wayne).
Tyrese Haliburton took a page out of Caitlin Clark's playbook. As the Pacers led 36-33 with 7:48 remaining in the first half, a wide-open Haliburton pulled up from beyond the arc without hesitation and nailed a 28-foot three pointer to take a six-point lead over the Knicks. No one was more excited than Clark, who pulled out Jalen Brunson's signature three-point celebration in response to the stellar play.
Indiana Fever teammates Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull are in the building. Fresh off the Fever's 95-93 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Friday, Clark, Boston and Hull returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to cheer on their NBA counterparts for Game 6. The Fever are simply returning the favor. Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers attended the Fever's opening night win over the Chicago Sky on May 17. The Fever are home for the weekend ahead of Tuesday's matchup against the Washington Mystics. Clark is nursing a left quad strain and will not play on Tuesday as she's expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks.
Chalamet is not going to let a little heckling from Pat McAfee chase him away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The longtime Knicks fan returned to Indianapolis on Saturday and the Oscar nominated actor was accompanied by girlfriend Kylie Jenner for Game 6. The A-list couple have attended several NBA playoff games together this year, including Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday and Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals between the Knicks and Boston Celtics.
The Pacers fans gave Hall of Famer Reggie Miller his flowers during Game 6. The Pacers legend, who serves as the TV analyst for TNT's broadcast, got a standing ovation during a break from game play. The five-time NBA All-Star played his entire 18 year career in Indiana and led the Pacers to three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and the 2000 NBA Finals.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is enjoying the NFL offseason. He was shown on the arena's Jumbotron proudly repping a Haliburton jersey and helped hype up the crowd during a timeout. Richardson was drafted out of Florida by Indianapolis with the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He completed 126 of 264 passes for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games (all starts) last season.
ESPN personality and former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee is back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to cheer on his home team. McAfee opted for a suite for Game 6, compared to his courtside appearance that ruffled some feathers in Game 4. McAfee donned a t-shirt that read, "Overrate that," referring to Tyrese Haliburton being voted the most overrated player in the league in an anonymous player poll by The Athletic last month.
McAfee is not the only former Colts player in the building. Super Bowl champion Reggie Wayne, who played for the Colts from 2001–2014, posed for a photo at halftime with Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose.
Jalen Rose got a warm welcome at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Rose played for the Pacers from 1996–2002 and led Indiana to three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and the 2000 NBA Finals alongside Reggie Miller.
Comedian Mike Epps is repping for the Pacers courtside. Epps was born and raised in Indianapolis.
The Indiana Pacers will host the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Time: 8 p.m. ET
8 p.m. ET Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) TV: TNT, truTV
TNT, truTV Stream: Sling TV, Max
Watch Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6 on Sling
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Indiana native John Mellencamp was not a fan of McAfee's rant.
'I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don't know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team," Mellencamp wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "The audience booed these people. I'd say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it's poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I've lived here my entire life."
The champ is here. Walt "Clyde" Frazier, who led the Knicks to two titles in 1970 and 1973, the franchise's only NBA titles to date, is in attendance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The 80-year-old Hall of Famer serves as the Knicks' television analyst on MSG Networks, alongside Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Mike Breen.
'I've been relishing and living vicariously through these guys," Fraizer said ahead of the game.
Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals brought out a variety of celebrities to Madison Square Garden, ranging from Knicks legends (Patrick Ewing, Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Bill Bradley) to comedians (Tracy Morgan), actors (Timothée Chalamet, Susie Essman, Ben Stiller, Mariska Hargitay and Spike Lee), musicians (Shaboozey, Idina Menzel and Joey Badass) and world-class athletes (Michael Strahan, Kevin Love and Henrik Lundqvist).
Check out the full star-studded Game 5 lineup here.
Obi Toppin is getting loose ahead of Game 6. He did so with an assist from a young fan.
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