Pacers extinguish Knicks’ NBA playoff hopes

SundayIndiana 106-99 New York Pacers win series 4-2INDIANA. Indiana Pacers will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals after beating the New York Knicks 106-99 to win series 4-2The Indiana Pacers will face the Miami Heat in their first NBA Eastern Conference finals since 2004 after extinguishing the New York Knicks’ championship aspirations 106-99 in Game Six.The Knicks had high hopes of appearing in their first conference finals since 2000 - when they were beaten in six by the Pacers - after finishing second to Miami in the East. But the Carmelo Anthony-led Knicks came unstuck against the all-round strength of the Pacers.Anthony scored 39 points and the next highest Knick was Iman Shumpert with 19, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. The rest of the Knicks’ starters shared just 10 points, while Jason Kidd again failed to score. JR Smith scored 15 but was just 2-of-9 in 3-pointers. Anthony was closed down during the crucial final stages and is now 3-9 in career postseason elimination games.Meanwhile, for the Pacers, Lance Stephenson had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Paul George 23 points, Roy Hibbert 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks, and David West 17 points.This was the Knicks’ sixth straight loss in Indiana. The Pacers, meanwhile, are 6-0 at home this postseason, but the Heat are the next team due in town. That series will start in Miami on Wednesday.

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Pacers extinguish Knicks’ NBA playoff hopes