Halftime Rewind: Pacers 70, Knicks 55 (Game 7)

Sunday, May 19 at 3:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden

The Indiana Pacers couldn’t have scripted a better start to Game 7. 

Indiana is shooting 76.3 percent to lead the New York Knicks 70-55 at halftime at Madison Square Garden. If the Pacers can hang on, they will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014. 

The Pacers opened the game by making 22 of their first 27 shots following the tip, leading by as many as 22 points in the second quarter, to establish dominance early. The Pacers have assisted on 19 of their 29 made baskets and limited the Knicks to 46.5 percent from the field.

Indiana’s trio of stars has dominated the Knicks’ starters so far. Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting (4-for-5 3-point range) to go with three assists, Pascal Siakam has 15 points (6-for-9 shooting), and Myles Turner has 10 points for the Blue & Gold.

Donte DiVincenzo and Alec Burks each have 14 points to top the Knicks and Jalen Brunson has 12 points on 4 of 13 shooting.

In the first quarter, the Blue & Gold shot 16-for-21, including 7-for-9 from three, while dishing out 12 assists to lead 39-27. Haliburton dropped 14 points (5-for-7 shooting) in the opening frame, and Siakam added 11 points (5-for-6 shooting). 

Indiana came out on fire following the tip, making seven of their first eight shots – with Siakam accounting for six points and Turner and Andrew Nembhard each adding five  – to put the Pacers in front 16-10, forcing a Knicks timeout with 7:19 on the clock.

Out of the huddle, Siakam and DiVincenzo each scored five quick points to keep it close until Haliburton went on a self-imposed 11-2 run — where he drained a trio of 3-pointers and also hit a fadeaway from 16 feet — to give the Pacers a 34-22 lead and prompt another New York timeout. 

T.J. McConnell then scored his first basket of the game and Haliburton drained his fourth three of the opening frame to build the lead to 12.

The Pacers’ hot shooting carried into the second quarter, as the Blue & Gold bench opened the frame on a  12-3 run thanks to five points by Isaiah Jackson and four from McConnell to put the visitors ahead 52-30 with 8:23 remaining in the half. 

New York responded with a quick 6-0 string, but a free throw line jumper by Nembhard, 3-pointer from Aaron Nesmith, and and-one fromTurner ended the run as the Blue & Gold went in front 64-45. 

In the final 1:48 of the first half, the Knicks finished on an 8-2 spree to narrow the score to 15 points. Siakam blocked a shot by Brunson on a layup attempt with two seconds left to end the half with a defensive highlight.

Indiana is reading the rebounding margin as 14-10, but both teams have 24 points in the paint. 

The winner of Game 7 will take on the Boston Celtics in the Easter Conference Finals starting on Tuesday night at TD Garden.

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

TV: ABC – Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

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