In the nick of time
Indiana Pacers bank on late run to beat New York Knicks, advance to East finals
INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana moved into the NBA Eastern Conference finals with a 106-99 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday, with a Roy Hibbert block sparking a late 11-2 run that sealed a 4-2 series victory.
Hibbert’s block on Carmelo Anthony midway through the fourth quarter shifted the momentum of the game, with Lewis Stevenson the prime beneficiary, scoring nine of his 23 points during the run.
“That’s why they pay me the big bucks this summer, so I have to protect the paint,” said Hibbert, who signed a $58 million contract last summer. “If all else fails, meaning the offense, I have to protect the paint.”
Next up is a rematch with Miami, the team that eliminated Indiana last season. Game 1 will be Wednesday at Miami.
Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points and Iman Shumpert had 19 for New York, which had another poor shooting night.
The Knicks made just 40 percent of their shots, and again wound up on the wrong side of a 43-36 rebounding discrepancy. In the paint, New York was outscored 52-20, and Anthony scored just four points in the final 12 minutes when he went 2 of 7 from the field.
“They have a hell of a defense,” Anthony said. “They do a hell of a job of controlling the paint, closing it down, making it tough for guys.
“You’ve got to give them guys credit, especially when they got a chance to set. Roy Hibbert gets to sit in the paint, causes havoc.”
Guard George Hill returned after missing Game 5 with concussion, and he gave the Pacers a big boost.
Hill finished with just 12 points on 2-of-10 shooting but had five rebounds and four assists, and kept the Pacers composed enough to commit only nine turnovers — 10 fewer than Thursday night’s loss in New York. (AP)