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Economic Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
Indiana Pacers punch ticket to NBA finals with 125-108 win over New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers punch ticket to NBA finals with 125-108 win Synopsis The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6, securing their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000. Pascal Siakam's 31 points and Tyrese Haliburton's 21 points and 14 assists led Indiana's balanced attack. They will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals, which begins on June 5 in Oklahoma City. In a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals conclusion on Saturday night, the Indiana Pacers secured their first NBA Finals berth since 2000 by defeating the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The victory capped a hard-fought series where Indiana's balanced attack and defensive intensity proved decisive against a resilient Knicks squad. ADVERTISEMENT Pacers forward Pascal Siakam led the charge with a dominant 31-point performance, showcasing his scoring versatility and leadership on the big stage. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has been the team's engine throughout the playoffs, finished with a solid 21 points and 14 assists, including a crucial 11-point surge in the final quarter that helped seal the win. Haliburton's postseason averages of 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists have been instrumental in Indiana's deep playoff run. The Knicks, fighting to extend their season, kept the game competitive in the first half but faltered in the third quarter as the Pacers intensified their defense. Indiana forced 18 turnovers, converting them into 34 points, and capitalized on 25 fast-break points. New York's Jalen Brunson was held to 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns, battling a knee injury, contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds. OG Anunoby was a bright spot for the Knicks with 24 points on efficient Pacers' supporting cast also shone: Obi Toppin came off the bench to score 18 points, and Thomas Bryant added 11 points, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Indiana's three-point shooting was a significant factor, hitting 53.3% (8 of 15) compared to the Knicks' 27.3% (3 of 11). This triumph marks Indiana's second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history and their first since the 2000 Finals, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The Pacers will now face the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in their series and finished the regular season with an impressive 68 wins, earning home-court advantage. ADVERTISEMENT The NBA Finals tip-off is set for Thursday, June 5, at 8:30 PM ET in Oklahoma City. The Pacers' coach expressed pride in his team's resilience: 'We stayed true to our style and were rewarded. Every point matters in this league.' Meanwhile, the Knicks coach acknowledged the challenge: 'Indiana's defense and depth were too much for us tonight.'As the Pacers prepare for their first championship series in 25 years, fans can expect a fiercely competitive Finals featuring two well-rounded teams hungry for NBA glory. ADVERTISEMENT (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Indiana Pacers punch ticket to NBA finals with 125-108 win over New York Knicks
In a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals conclusion on Saturday night, the Indiana Pacers secured their first NBA Finals berth since 2000 by defeating the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The victory capped a hard-fought series where Indiana's balanced attack and defensive intensity proved decisive against a resilient Knicks squad. Pacers forward Pascal Siakam led the charge with a dominant 31-point performance, showcasing his scoring versatility and leadership on the big stage. Point guard Tyrese Haliburton , who has been the team's engine throughout the playoffs, finished with a solid 21 points and 14 assists, including a crucial 11-point surge in the final quarter that helped seal the win. Haliburton's postseason averages of 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists have been instrumental in Indiana's deep playoff run. The Knicks, fighting to extend their season, kept the game competitive in the first half but faltered in the third quarter as the Pacers intensified their defense. Indiana forced 18 turnovers, converting them into 34 points, and capitalized on 25 fast-break points. New York's Jalen Brunson was held to 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns, battling a knee injury, contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds. OG Anunoby was a bright spot for the Knicks with 24 points on efficient shooting. The Pacers' supporting cast also shone: Obi Toppin came off the bench to score 18 points, and Thomas Bryant added 11 points, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Indiana's three-point shooting was a significant factor, hitting 53.3% (8 of 15) compared to the Knicks' 27.3% (3 of 11). Live Events This triumph marks Indiana's second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history and their first since the 2000 Finals, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The Pacers will now face the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder , who dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in their series and finished the regular season with an impressive 68 wins, earning home-court advantage. The NBA Finals tip-off is set for Thursday, June 5, at 8:30 PM ET in Oklahoma City. The Pacers' coach expressed pride in his team's resilience: 'We stayed true to our style and were rewarded. Every point matters in this league.' Meanwhile, the Knicks coach acknowledged the challenge: 'Indiana's defense and depth were too much for us tonight.' As the Pacers prepare for their first championship series in 25 years, fans can expect a fiercely competitive Finals featuring two well-rounded teams hungry for NBA glory.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How many NBA teams have never won a championship?
How many NBA teams have never won a championship? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Last season, the Larry O'Brien trophy returned to Boston, a city that has won more NBA championships than any other. Advertisement It was the 18th title for the Celtics, which is 18 more than many teams in the league. There are 10 NBA franchises that have never won an NBA championship, and as many as five of them will be competing in the first round of the playoffs that begin Saturday. Two of those teams — the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers — reached their respective conference finals last season. They were each attempting to become the fourth NBA team over the last decade to capture their first NBA championship — joining the 2022-23 Denver Nuggets, the 2018-19 Toronto Raptors and the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers. Which teams have never won an NBA championship? There are 10 active NBA teams that have not yet won an NBA championship: the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz. Advertisement The Pacers, Clippers, Timberwolves and Magic have secured their spot in the 2025 playoffs, and they could be joined by the Grizzlies if they win their play-in game on Friday. Perhaps you thought the Oklahoma City Thunder would be on this list. The Thunder, who had the best record in the league this season at 68-14, won the NBA championship in 1979 as the Seattle SuperSonics. Since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008, the team has not yet won a title but did reach the NBA Finals in 2012. As the NBA playoffs near, let's look at each of the title-less teams and see how close each has come to winning that elusive championship: Brooklyn Nets Joined NBA: 1976 Advertisement NBA Finals appearances: 2 (2002, 2003) The Nets have not won a title since joining the NBA in 1976. But they did win two ABA titles! Charlotte Hornets Joined NBA: 1988 NBA Finals appearances: None Neither the Hornets nor the Bobcats have won a title. In fact, they are one of two teams to have never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. Probably why Michael Jordan sold the team. Indiana Pacers Joined NBA: 1976 NBA Finals appearances: 1 (2000) The Pacers, a three-time ABA champion, pushed a Los Angeles Lakers team led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to six games in the 2000 Finals. Los Angeles Clippers Joined NBA: 1970 Advertisement NBA Finals appearances: None The Clippers' postseason history is well documented, as is the organization's past dysfunction. There's even a television series about it. But the Clippers enter this season's playoffs having won 18 of their last 21 games. Perhaps this is the year they finally reach their first NBA Finals? Memphis Grizzlies Joined NBA: 1995 NBA Finals appearances: None The Grizzlies have more international relocations than NBA championships, having shifted from Vancouver to Memphis in 2001. Minnesota Timberwolves Joined NBA: 1989 NBA Finals appearances: None The Timberwolves came within three wins of their first NBA Finals appearance last season after Anthony Edwards led the team to the Western Conference Finals. New Orleans Pelicans Joined NBA: 2002 Advertisement NBA Finals appearances: None The Pelicans, along with the Hornets, are the only teams in the league that have never reached the conference finals. Perhaps one day we'll get the Pelicans-Hornets NBA Finals matchup we deserve. Orlando Magic Joined NBA: 1989 NBA Finals appearances: 2 (1995, 2009) The Magic have made it to the Finals twice and lost both. But they will forever be the last team to eliminate Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, so there's that. Phoenix Suns Joined NBA: 1968 NBA Finals appearances: 3 (1976, 1993, 2021) The Suns have been two wins away from winning a title on three occasions, including in 2021 when they held a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks. They are the only current team in the league to have reached three NBA Finals without winning a championship. Utah Jazz Joined NBA: 1974 Advertisement NBA Finals appearances: 2 (1997, 1998) Thanks, Michael Jordan. Which teams have never been to the NBA Finals? Five current NBA franchises have still yet to play in the Finals with one team in the midst of a half-century drought.
