Supply: Getty Photographs / Indiana Pacers / New York Knicks

It’s not orange and blue skies after the NBA’s “most overrated participant,” Tyrese Haliburton, and the Indiana Pacers as soon as once more despatched New York Knicks, Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet, Spike Lee, and the remainder of the diehard Knickerbocker followers on summer time break.

The New York Knicks and their followers thought their 52-year championship drought was coming to an finish, however sadly, the Indiana Pacers had different plans.

Final evening, in a sport that began shut, the Pacers ultimately cruised to a 125-108 Sport 6 win over the Knicks, punching their ticket to the NBA Finals for the primary time in 25 years to face the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the place they hope they will win the franchise’s first NBA title.

Out of the gate, the Knicks didn’t let the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd have an effect on them, retaining the competition shut, trailing by solely 4 factors at halftime. However it was clear they couldn’t hold tempo with the Pacers, who turned it on within the second half, ending the third quarter with an 11-point lead that the Knicks couldn’t overcome.

It didn’t assist that the Knicks’ offense was stifled by the Pacers’ protection within the second half. The clutch participant of the yr and Knicks’ prime offensive weapon, Jalen Brunson, was held to simply 19 factors and shot 4/10 on the half as a result of Andrew Nembhard locked him down.

In Video games 1-5, Andrew Nembhard defended Jalen Brunson for 49 match-ups, permitting 51.0 participant factors per 100 match-ups

In Sport 6, Nembhard defended Brunson for 55 match-ups, giving up simply 9.1 participant factors per 100 match-ups

He was sensational. pic.twitter.com/VQNoJSo22x

— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) June 1, 2025

Turnovers Killed The Knicks’ Probabilities

The Pacers additionally pressured 18 Knicks turnovers, scoring 25 fastbreak factors, a recipe for catastrophe for any workforce making an attempt to win an Jap Convention Finals sequence.

After being stifled in Sport 5, Tyrese Haliburton returned to kind, scoring 21 factors and allotting 13 assists. Nevertheless, it was Pascal Siakam’s 31-point efficiency that helped put the Knicks away for good, incomes him the sequence MVP award, which additionally offered a traditional meme second.

Tyrese Haliburton thought that Larry Hen ECF MVP trophy was his🤣#NBA #Pacers pic.twitter.com/59eF189mNI

— Caleb Nixon (@calebnixonmedia) June 1, 2025

Jalen Brunson Nonetheless Has Confidence In This Knicks Crew

Regardless of stable offensive efforts from OG Anunoby, who led all Knicks scorers with 24 factors, and Karl-Anthony Cities with 22, it simply wasn’t sufficient.

It didn’t assist that Josh Hart, who has been dependable all season, didn’t depart his mark on the sport, scoring solely 4 factors.

Following the sport, Brunson says he nonetheless believes on this Knicks workforce as it’s constructed, telling reporters he has “Probably the most confidence, overconfident, significantly,” Brunson mentioned. “There’s not an oz of any kind of doubt that I’m assured with this group.”

Jalen Brunson was requested if he has confidence that Tom Thibodeau is the proper coach for the Knicks transferring ahead:

“Is that an actual query proper now? You simply requested me if I imagine if he is the proper man. Sure.” pic.twitter.com/FRjCO8genL

— Knicks Movies (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025

A Magical Season Comes To A Bitter Finish

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks appeared like they have been on the verge of a particular season after two massive playoff sequence wins, together with knocking off the defending champion Boston Celtics.

However it might prove their largest take a look at can be the franchise’s longtime rivals, the Indiana Pacers, who’ve performed boogeyman to the Knicks franchise for a few years.

Coming into the sequence, the Knicks had all of the momentum, particularly after pulling off one of many largest comebacks in playoff historical past en path to denying the Celtics the chance to defend their 2023-24 NBA championship.

It might prove that the Knicks would get a style of their very own medication after they dramatically blew a big lead in sport 1 of the Jap Convention finals, which led to an insane Tyrese Haliburton buzzer-beater to drive additional time, the place the Knicks got here up brief, and ultimately would go on to lose the sequence.

TYRESE HALIBURTON BUZZER BEATER FORCES OT 🤯🤯🤯

AND HE DID THE CHOKE SIGN TO THE KNICKS!!! pic.twitter.com/0jufr6naNl

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) Could 22, 2025

As you possibly can think about, Knicks followers’ feelings are all over. Some are happy with their Knickerbockers, whereas others really feel a change is required, calling for the firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau, whose rotations and refusal to make use of his bench have been as soon as once more the topic of dialogue.

Tom Thibodeau is simply Doc Rivers however performs his stars 48 minutes a sport. pic.twitter.com/d2fVTya9Cj

— chickenfried🍗 (@realzachbrown) Could 26, 2025

Welp, there’s all the time subsequent yr.

You’ll be able to see extra reactions within the gallery under.