The Indiana Pacers are fully embracing their journey to the NBA Finals, a first for the franchise since the year 2000.
Indiana secured their spot by defeating the New York Knicks in a hard-fought six-game Eastern Conference Finals series, concluding with a dominant 125-108 victory in Game 6 on Saturday night. The Pacers are now set to face NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, which are scheduled to begin on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Pacers` decisive win in Game 6 was a notable team effort, featuring seven players scoring in double figures. Pascal Siakam led the scoring with 31 points and was recognized as the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Tyrese Haliburton delivered a crucial performance in the second half, finishing the game with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
According to research from ESPN, Haliburton has joined an elite group, becoming only the third player in NBA history to record over 60 assists with 10 or fewer turnovers in a playoff series. He holds the distinction of being the first player to achieve this specific feat in the conference finals stage.
Indiana`s path to the Finals was not without its difficulties, encompassing challenges both on and off the basketball court.
Upon clinching the Eastern Conference title, the Pacers` social media team, along with star player Tyrese Haliburton, did not hesitate to engage in some playful trolling directed at the Knicks, referencing their shared history and delivering several notable online jabs.
Pacers Send New York Packing
The Pacers franchise holds a notable history of defeating the Knicks in the NBA playoffs during the 21st century. They have successfully eliminated New York in multiple postseasons: 2000, 2013, 2024, and now in 2025.
To dramatically illustrate their consistent success against New York in the playoffs, the Pacers released a graphic highlighting their series victories over the Knicks. The image featured Indiana`s starting five positioned in front of iconic New York City landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the One Vanderbilt tower, symbolizing their triumphs in the Knicks` home city.
Jabs at the `Big Apple`
The Pacers also shared a social media post compiling images of newspaper sports sections featuring headlines from various games in which they defeated the Knicks. This was coupled with a playful jab at New York`s famous nickname, `the Big Apple`.
Haliburton`s Miller Tribute
In Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Pacers legend Reggie Miller famously directed a choking gesture towards director and avid Knicks fan Spike Lee while playing at Madison Square Garden. Thirty-one years later, in Game 1 of the recent series, Haliburton echoed this gesture after the Pacers orchestrated a significant comeback, trailing by more than 14 points late in regulation. The Pacers` social media team was quick to acknowledge this historical reference.
Haliburton Clashes with Ben Stiller
Actor Ben Stiller is widely recognized for his frequent courtside appearances at Knicks games and his outspoken support for the team on social media. Ahead of Game 6, Haliburton arrived at the arena wearing an all-black outfit and carrying a black duffle bag. Stiller commented on a pre-game social media post about Haliburton`s arrival, tweeting: “Good thing he brought his duffle for the flight to NY.”
Haliburton`s swift and pointed response after the game?
“Nah, was to pack y`all up,” directly implying he brought the bag to `pack up` the Knicks team and end their season.
Haliburton vs. the City
Knicks fans displayed notable aggression throughout the playoffs. One widely reported incident involved fans allegedly throwing garbage bags at a Pacers fan and harassing him on the streets of New York City solely for wearing a Haliburton jersey, following the Knicks` victory over the Celtics in the East semifinals.
In a gesture of solidarity, Haliburton personally invited the fan who was accosted to attend Game 4 in Indianapolis. Haliburton also publicly acknowledged these incidents, concluding a highlight reel of his performance in the series with a reference to these interactions, indicating he “kept the receipts.”
