The Indiana Pacers will face the New York Knicks in Game 7.
Thanks to a defensive effort from Lockdown and Pascal Siakam's 25 points, Indiana defeated the Knicks 116-103 in Game 6 on Friday, returning the series to New York. The winner-take-all game is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30pm ET (ABC).
Game 7 at Madison Square will be the first since 1995, when the Knicks lost to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Friday was an example of the Pacers' usual suspects doing what it took to survive in front of their home crowd. Siakam had 11-of-21 shooting, seven rebounds and five assists, and Tyrese Haliburton had 15 points and nine assists. TJ McConnell was once again a difference-maker off the bench, scoring 15 points.
Myles Turner also did this:
So Obi Toppin did this.
Indiana particularly shined on defense, most notably in limiting Jalen Brunson, who entered Friday after averaging 33.9 points per game this postseason. Brunson still managed to score 31 points, but he was only 8-of-22 from the field in the fourth quarter. New York did everything they could to help him, but the Pacers kept him off balance until garbage time.
Adding to the problem for the Knicks, starting guard Josh Hart left the game in the fourth quarter with abdominal pain. New York will be hoping he and other players are available for Game 7.
OG Anunoby's health is in jeopardy for Game 7
The series returns to New York, and the biggest X-factor is a player who hasn't appeared since Game 2.
Knicks guard OG Anunoby has been out since injuring his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Game 2, but reportedly could return on Sunday. He won't be back anytime soon for the Knicks, who won the two games Anunoby played in but have since lost three of the next four.
The Knicks acquired Anunoby at the trade deadline, which strengthened their rotation and helped them become one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The team went 20-3 in the games Anunoby played, but he missed most of the second half due to elbow surgery.
