Twenty-five years after Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose led the Indiana Pacers to their first NBA Finals appearance, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam have taken the torch — and delivered.
The Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, punching their ticket to the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. It’s the first time the Pacers have ever clinched a Finals berth on their home court, and they did so in front of 17,274 gold-clad fans, several Pacers legends, and national celebrities.
They’ll now face the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, with Game 1 set for Thursday at Paycom Center.
Pascal Siakam Named ECF MVP After Dominant Series
Pascal Siakam came ready to close the series out 💪
31 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 3 BLK pic.twitter.com/84lLDg36Yy
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 1, 2025
Veteran forward Pascal Siakam, who was acquired in a blockbuster deal in January 2024, was named the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP. The three-time All-Star finished Game 6 with 31 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal, going 10-of-18 from the field, 3-of-5 from deep, and 8-of-11 from the line. It marked his third 30-point game of the series — all Pacers wins.
“I’m just a young kid from Cameroon that moved to the U.S. when he was 18 years old and gave everything to the game of basketball,” Siakam said. “I just work every single day. I don’t cheat the work. No matter good games [or] bad games, I’m in the gym. I care about the game of basketball, and I want to be as great as I can.”
Through six games against New York, Siakam averaged 24.8 points on 52.4% shooting (50.0% from three), with 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He brought championship experience, defensive versatility, and unwavering confidence — attributes that helped shift Indiana from an upstart to a legitimate title contender.
“[We] brought in a champion, man,” said 10-year Pacer Myles Turner. “Someone who had to work his way up. He’s a G League champion, G League Finals MVP, and obviously the All-Star appearances. Someone who’s seen the highs and lows. That’s who you want going into battle.”
Haliburton’s Moment of Validation
YES ‘CERRRRRS
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 1, 2025
All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton once described himself as a kid who just wanted to feel seen. On Saturday night, he stood at center court with a conference championship hat on and the admiration of a franchise and fanbase that has embraced him completely.
“It means a lot,” Haliburton said. “This is a franchise that took a chance on me, saw something that other people didn’t see in me. Sometimes I think they saw more in me than I saw in myself… I love being a Pacer. There’s nothing like it.”
Haliburton posted 21 points, 14 assists, and six rebounds in the Game 6 victory, with 11 of those points coming in the fourth quarter to close the door on the Knicks. He also drilled a 32-foot three-pointer in the final minute before head coach Rick Carlisle emptied the bench.
“He’s been like a big brother to me,” Haliburton said of Siakam. “Somebody I can really trust, somebody I can really talk to and lean on, somebody who can always keep me steady.”
Carlisle added: “I’m so proud of Tyrese… He just kept his head down and kept working. It’s a lot of pressure, being that main guy. He’s done a great job composing himself and showing up when it matters the most.”
Balanced Attack, Defensive Identity Fuel Game 6 Win
Indiana’s formula in Game 6 was emblematic of the identity it has forged over two grueling playoff runs. Seven players scored in double figures, the Pacers shot 54.3% from the field, and they knocked down 17-of-33 from three (51.5%).
Off the bench, Obi Toppin had 18 points and six rebounds against his former team. Thomas Bryant added a playoff career-high 11 points and hit three three-pointers. Andrew Nembhard stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, eight assists, and six steals — nearly tying the franchise playoff record.
Defensively, the Pacers forced 18 New York turnovers and turned them into 34 points.
“We just have a lot of guys that are committed to that defensive identity,” Siakam said. “We know we can score… But as long as we are committed to getting stops, that’s what’s gonna take us to another level.”
Carlisle echoed the sentiment: “The guys co-signed on the importance of defense. And everybody participated in the growth.”
Milestones, Memories, and the Moment
The moment wasn’t lost on anyone.
This was Indiana’s 10th appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1994 — tied with Boston and Miami for the most over that span — but just the second time the Pacers will play for a title. The crowd stayed on its feet for much of the final quarter, chanting “IN-DI-AN-A” with Turner leading the call-and-response postgame.
“When the buzzer was sounding, I just [felt] nothing but joy,” Turner said. “Just pure excitement. Just pure validation. Just all the years, all the hate, all the love, everything in between — just made so much sense in that moment.”
The arena was full of symbolism. Miller, who called the game on TNT’s final NBA broadcast, presented the Bob Cousy Trophy to Pacers owner Herb Simon. Jalen Rose, Miller’s teammate on the 2000 Finals team, was courtside. So were Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Anthony Richardson, Pat McAfee, and a cross-section of Indiana sports royalty.
“It’s a special feeling to do it with this group,” Haliburton said. “We got to the same spot last year, fell short. And we just worked our tails off as a group to get back here… I’m just really proud of the resilience of this group.”
The Journey That Built This Team
Indiana’s rise to the NBA Finals wasn’t accidental — it was meticulously built over years.
Drafting Turner 11th overall in 2015. The low-key signing of T.J. McConnell in 2019. The hiring of Carlisle (again) in 2021. The Haliburton blockbuster in 2022. The Siakam swing in 2024. Trades for Toppin, Nesmith, Nembhard, and Sheppard. Lottery picks spent on Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker. A team molded by President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard with patience, calculation, and belief.
“You don’t know when you’re gonna get this again,” Siakam said. “I think we have to have the mindset of going out there knowing this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The last time the Pacers reached the Finals, Haliburton was three months old. Nembhard and Nesmith were also born in 2000. Five current players — including Mathurin, Sheppard, Walker, Furphy, and Isaiah Jackson — weren’t born yet.
And still, this young group carries the weight of the franchise’s past with them. Over the course of the playoffs, everyone from Jermaine O’Neal to Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Travis Best, and Dale Davis has returned to support the current squad.
“We just kept pushing,” Haliburton said. “This is a really special group. I’m thankful that I’m doing it with these guys.”
What’s Next
The Pacers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, a 68-win powerhouse led by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and an elite defense. Game 1 is Thursday, June 5 in OKC. Game 2 is Sunday, June 8, before the series shifts to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4 on June 11 and 13.
Indiana is four wins away from its first NBA championship.
“This isn’t a surprise to any of us,” Haliburton said. “Internally we had expectations to be here.”
And now they are. On the biggest stage in basketball.
