Game 6: Siakam assists the Pacers over the Knicks 116-103 to push the Eastern Conference semifinals to the brink.

Coach Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers urged his squad to compete with greater physicality and tenacity on Friday night. In response, his side, desperate, put up one of the most motivated games of the season.

With a 116-103 victory over the New York Knicks, Pascal Siakam finished with 25 points and seven rebounds, Myles Turner added 17 points and eight rebounds, and the Pacers levelled the Eastern Conference semifinals at 3-3. Madison Square Garden will host the pivotal Game 7 on Sunday.

The Knicks’ hustle plays and strength on the glass, which resulted in Tuesday’s 30-point rout in Game 5 and placed the Pacers in danger of elimination, presented Indiana with a two-day challenge.

On this occasion, the Pacers had a modest 14-13 advantage on the offensive end and a 47-35 rebounding advantage. Additionally, their scoring was balanced, which dispersed the Knicks defence.

Both Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard scored fifteen points apiece, with Nembhard contributing six assists and six rebounds. In front of a boisterous sellout crowd that gave the Pacers much-needed energy in crucial times, Indiana maintained its perfect postseason home record of 6-0, led by nine assists from Haliburton.

Even All-Star Jalen Brunson, who has been the league’s leading scorer in the postseason. Sure, he went 11 of 26 from the field to finish with 31 points and five assists, but that came after he missed his last 11 shots in the first half.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 17 points and Deuce McBride scored 20, but the Knicks, who were severely lacking in players, might have taken another hit when Josh Hart exited the game in the fourth quarter due to what they described as stomach pains.

The Knicks have avoided having to play in Indiana, where they have dropped their last nine postseason games, which is wonderful news. Rather, they’re returning to the Garden to face a team that has a number of players who are either playing important roles in the postseason for the first time or are making their first playoff outings.

After winning numerous battles for loose balls and converting them into quick scores, the Pacers certainly appeared like it on Friday.

Haliburton’s second 3-pointer of the game gave them a 42-41 advantage. The Pacers never trailed again after the subsequent 16–7 run helped them build a 61–51 advantage at the half. After a timeout, Nembhard and Haliburton responded with back-to-back 3-pointers, bringing the Knicks within 61-56.

However, Brunson bounced back in the second half and the Pacers regained their 11-point advantage. The Knicks lost for the third time in four games and were only one victory away from making it to their first conference final since 2000. They never truly bounced back. Since 2014, Indiana has not participated in the conference finals.

Due to injury, New York was again without four important players: backup centre Mitchell Robinson, forwards OG Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Julius Randle. The only player who looks to have a chance to return on Sunday is Anunoby, who hurt his left hamstring in the second half of Game 2 and hasn’t played since.