Why the Pacers face an all-time NBA Finals challenge after breaking Knicks hearts
Monday night could have been one of the most memorable nights in the history of Madison Square Garden.
But instead of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, the postmortem of the Knicks continued, the final drops of adrenaline sapped from a six-week thrill ride that took a quarter-century to enjoy.
It is understandable if it is difficult to get up for the NBA Finals after watching the Knicks lose to an old rival with a new villain (Tyrese Haliburton) in a series they entered as the favorites. It will be a challenge for many casual fans, who see Oklahoma City and Indiana — and reach for the remote.
But in addition to the historically dominant Thunder and up-tempo Pacers bringing two of the league's most entertaining and uncommon styles to the Finals, the matchup ranks among the most unique in title history.
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