NBA Playoffs 2013: Indiana Pacers vs. N.Y. Knicks Recap

The New York Knicks looked like they were on their way to forcing a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. They led the Indiana Pacers 92-90 with around five minutes to go and had the momentum, having erased a double-digit deficit in a matter of just more than a minute to close out the third period.

Then this happened:

Roy Hibbert erased a dunk attempt by Carmelo Anthony and Indiana went downcourt and tied the game on a Lance Stephenson scored to start an 11-2 run that propelled the Pacers to a 106-99 victory in Game 6. For Indiana, it will be their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2004.

Stevenson scored nine of his team- and career-high 25 points during the fateful run. Hibbert also had a big night, scoring 21 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking five shots—none bigger than the rejection on Anthony in the fourth quarter.

Anthony had 39 points, but just four in the fourth quarter on 2-of-7 shooting. Iman Shumpert canned five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points, but even going a more typical 13-for-30 from deep could get the Knicks back to New York for a seventh game.

Game Scores (Indiana wins series, 4-2)

Game 1 at New York: Indiana 102, New York 95
Game 2 at New York: New York 105, Indiana 79
Game 3 at Indianapolis: Indiana 82, New York 71
Game 4 at Indianapolis: Indiana 93, New York 82
Game 5 at New York: New York 85, Indiana 75
Game 6 at Indianapolis: Indiana 106, New York 99

Series MVP

George Hill, Indiana Pacers

George Hill was the difference for the Indiana Pacers. (NBA.com photo)

Hill missed Game 5 of the series with a concussion and his absence was conspicuous. Without Hill to run the point, Indiana turned the ball over 19 times and shot just 36.2 percent in a 10-point loss that forced the series back to Indianapolis for Game 6.

Hill returned for Game 6 and the turnover count dropped to nine, with just one of them coming in the second half, and the Pacers were able to withstand a sizzling second-half run by the Knicks to close out the series.

It’s not as if Hill’s numbers in the series were dazzling—16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in the five games he played on just 36.8 percent shooting (25-for-68). But the advanced numbers tell a different story. Hill had an offensive rating (ORtg, points per 100 possessions), of 106 and a defensive rating of 97.1—that 8.9 differential was far and away the best among Indiana’s balanced starting five.

Hill was especially big in Indiana’s Game 4 win, with 26 points.

Biggest Surprise

Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers

A year ago, Stevenson created a stir by flashing a “choke” gesture at LeBron James after the Miami Heat star missed a free throw during their Eastern Conference semifinal series, which Miami won in six games en route to winning the title.

Lance Stephenson had the game of his life for the Indiana Pacers in Game 6. (NBA.com photo)

This time around, Stephenson took over Game 6 for the Pacers, scoring nine of his career-high (regular-season or playoffs) 25 points during a key 11-2 run that helped Indiana close out the game and the series late in the fourth quarter.

Stephenson was everywhere in Game 6, adding 10 rebounds and three assists to his tally and avoiding a trip back home for the Brooklyn native.

“I just didn’t want to go back to New York and play Game 7,” Stephenson told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). “Just get it done with now and I’d do whatever it takes to do that [Saturday]. It showed [Saturday night].”

For the series, Stephenson averaged 11.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, both much higher than his regular-season marks of 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds, respectively.

This is a video highlight package Stephenson will probably feel better about than the gesture.

Biggest Disappointment

J.R. Smith, New York Knicks

J.R. Smith struggled to find his shooting touch against the Indiana Pacers. (NBA.com photo)

Smith had 15 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes of Game 6, but it’s not like he was efficient about it—firing up 15 shots and going just 2-for-9 from 3-point range.

It was that kind of a series for Smith, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. Smith was a putrid 28.9 percent from the floor in the series (26-for-90) and hit just 9-of-39 from 3-point range (23.1 percent). He averaged 13.5 points a game in the series, well off his regular-season average of 18.1 points a night.

Smith was understandably subdued when addressing the media after the loss in Game 6.

But here’s the thing … maybe we shouldn’t be disappointed with the way Smith performed in the playoffs. After all, both with the Denver Nuggets and now with the Knicks Smith has been awful in the postseason.

In 11 playoff games this year, Smith shot 33.1 percent. That’s actually an improvement over the 31.6 percent clunker he threw up during last year’s loss to the Boston Celtics in the first round. In 51 playoff games, Smith is a 38.7 percent shooter and hits just 30.8 percent from long range. That doesn’t compare favorably to his regular season figures of 42.6 percent and 36.7 percent, respectively.

In any event, when an ailing Carmelo Anthony needed someone—anyone—to pick up some of the scoring slack against the Pacers, Smith couldn’t get it done with any consistency.

What’s Next

Eastern Conference Finals and the Miami Heat

(Image courtesy sportslogos.net)

The Heat and Indiana Pacers played in the second round last year, with Indiana jumping out to a stunning 2-1 series lead before the Heat won the last three games to close out the series.

The teams met three times in the regular season, with the Pacers winning twice at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Miami holding serve in the single game at the American Airlines Arena.

Indiana won 87-77 on Jan. 8 and 102-89 on Feb. 1—notable because it was the Heat’s last loss before embarking on their 27-game winning streak. Miami posted a 105-91 on March 10.

The Eastern Conference Finals tip off Wednesday, May 22, in Miami.