The Indiana Pacers are on their way to Miami after defeating the New York Knicks in Game 6. They shook up the NBA Playoff Standings and as the Western Conference Finals begin on Sunday, the Pacers and Miami Heat are now set for their matchup in the Eastern Conference as they relied on an unusual hero to get them there.
Lance Stephenson played a game to remember Mike Tirico called it "The game of his life." Stephenson did just that going 9-13 from the floor with27 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and had three assists, finishing with a double-double. Outside of the impressive stat line, Stephenson's timing was perfect. He gave the Pacers the lead after the Knicks tied and then stole the ball and finished with an old fashion three-point play giving the Pacers some breathing room.
With 5:43 left in the game, J.R. Smith made a three giving the Knicks a 92-90 lead. Stephenson scored the next five points fueling a 16-7 run for the Pacers as the game came to a conclusion.
The Knicks gave it their all finding ways to close the quarter and somehow sticking around.
Carmelo Anthony ruled the first half and once again, he found a way to disappear in the fourth quarter as other Knicks took charge. Anthony scored 39 points, 12 of which came in the first quarter. In the second half, Anthony wasn't as relevant. Iman Shumpert went completely nuts scoring 16 points in the third quarter and bring the Knicks back from a 10-point deficit.
Shumpert finished the game with 19 points and Smith added 15 points. Raymond Felton was absent from this matchup scoring only two points going 0-7 from the floor. Other guys absent from the action when it mattered most, Tyson Chandler who fouled out with just two points and six rebounds, joining Chandler was Kenyon Martin with his sixth foul after scoring just five points.
After the game concluded, the Indiana fans were chanting "Beat the Heat." The Pacers now take on the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals as their series starts on Wednesday.
Here's what the NBA Playoff Standings look like now:
Miami Heat 4-1 Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers 4-2 New York Knicks
Memphis Grizzles 4-1 Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs 4-2 Golden State Warriors
The survivors are now the Heat vs. Pacers and the Spurs vs. Warriors.