Category: Basketball

How NBA's conference finals were full of Warriors' 2020 draft ties originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 2025 NBA Finals have been set, with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder representing the Western Conference, and the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers coming out of the Eastern Conference. Each team took different paths to get here. 

The Thunder made their first Finals appearance since a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden led them there in 2012. The Pacers’ run has been 25 years in the making, last getting this far in 2000 behind the duo of Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose. To do so, Indiana and Oklahoma City had to get through a conference finals with a whole ton of ties to the 2020 NBA Draft, one in which the Warriors can’t escape, five years later. 

It all starts with the team the Thunder took down in five games. The Minnesota Timberwolves won just 19 games in the 2019-20 season, two seasons after being the No. 8 seed under Tom Thibodeau behind a trio of Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins (hey, more Warriors ties!) and Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota with the top pick in the draft made Anthony Edwards its new face of the franchise, and Ant-Man already has become one of the faces of the entire NBA at 23 years old. 

Edwards is a dog whose bite matches his bark, a bona fide superstar who backs up his words. Part of that he credits to Warriors coach Steve Kerr for the way he pushed him in his pre-draft workout when Golden State was selecting one spot behind Minnesota. Kerr knew Edwards wanted to soon enough be mentioned with the greats like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, but how he attacked his workout was nothing compared to those two. The taste of defeat in the conference finals for a second straight year will sit with Edwards for the time being, though the Timberwolves obviously already have gotten everything a franchise hopes for in having the No. 1 pick. 

In technical terms, the Timberwolves made two more picks five years ago, taking Aleksej Pokusevski (No. 17) and Daniel Oturu (No. 33). Neither ever wore a Timberwolves jersey. Pokusevski was traded to the Thunder, and Oturu was sent to the LA Clippers. 

They did bring in one more player, Leandro Bolmaro, with the No. 23 pick as part of a three-team trade, but this point is all about what happened five picks later. The Los Angeles Lakers originally drafted Jaden McDaniels, but in the same three-team trade that involved Pokusevski and Bolmaro, the Timberwolves traded for McDaniels from the Thunder. 

Like that, the Timberwolves added two players in the 2020 draft who are starters on a team that made back-to-back conference finals, one who is an All-NBA player and another who is an All-Defensive player. Yet they still aren’t the winners of the draft five years ago when it comes to these conference finals. 

Their victors, the Thunder, have owned a wealth of draft picks that go deeper than Cat Stevens’ first cut. It’s not like OKC crushed this draft on its road back to the Finals. 

The Great Poku Experiment brought social media buzz and not much else. They first had the No. 25 pick, Immanuel Quickley, that was sent to the New York Knicks, and also in a sense had the McDaniels pick on paper. The Thunder acquired two players in the second round, and those selections didn’t amount to any results. 

Then there’s the No. 49 pick. The team was the Philadelphia 76ers, and the player they landed on was Isaiah Joe. But his time in Philly was only two seasons for a total of 96 games, averaging 3.7 points with a 34.9 3-point percentage. The 76ers waived him on Oct. 13, 2022. The Thunder then signed him three days later for a total of $6 million over three seasons. 

Joe last July signed a four-year, $48 million deal as a key cog in the Thunder’s machine. They developed a 6-foot-5 guard into someone who has shot 42.3 percent on threes for them the last three seasons and averaged a career-high 10.2 points per game. The Warriors were on the clock one spot ahead of Joe being selected by the Sixers. 

Golden State grabbed point guard Nico Mannion, who played one season in a Warriors jersey and has spent his time playing in Italy since his rookie year. Just three picks after taking Mannion, the Warriors went with a shooter who was a project everywhere else in Justinian Jessup, and he’s still yet to play an NBA game. 

Back in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have only one player on their roster drafted in 2020. Precious Achiuwa originally was drafted by the Miami Heat 20th overall, traded to the Toronto Raptors one year later, and then wound up in New York as part of a deal that saw the Knicks send Quickley up north. 

But the Knicks, as they somehow always do whether they’re good or bad, will find their way back into this story. 

This year’s conference finals featured the NBA MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and the two best players from the 2020 draft. The top dog from the draft is Edwards, however, Tyrese Haliburton has made his case. 

Haliburton wasn’t a top three, five or 10 pick in the draft. He barely remained in the lottery before being taken by the Sacramento Kings at No. 12. While he was more than one team’s loss, including the Kings after trading him to the Pacers in a package highlighted by Domantas Sabonis, Haliburton would have been the perfect Warrior. 

And he isn’t the Pacers’ lone win, looking back at a bizarre draft. 

Now it’s time for the Knicks to re-enter the conversation. Thoughts of Obi Toppin hammering home East Bay Dunks at Madison Square Garden didn’t translate to stardom. He started only 15 games and averaged 7.0 points in three seasons with the Knicks after being drafted No. 8 overall, but Toppin now has settled into his own the past two seasons as a Pacer, scoring 20 points in a critical Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. 

Aaron Nesmith tallied 16 minutes for the Boston Celtics against the Warriors in the 2022 Finals, with the majority coming in garbage time of a Game 2 blowout loss for Boston. He was an afterthought when that next offseason, the Celtics traded him to the Pacers for one season of Malcolm Brogdon. Yes, Brogdon won Sixth Man of the Year for the Celtics that season, but has played 63 games between two teams since.

Meanwhile, Nesmith, the No. 14 pick in the 2020 draft, has turned into the Pacers’ starting small forward, giving them three players from the lottery of five years ago. The Timberwolves’ duo of Edwards and McDaniels is hard to beat. The Pacers came out of the 2020 draft with only Cassius Stanley (No. 54 overall), and now have a trio of Haliburton, Toppin and Nesmith that made two straight conference finals before the franchise’s first trip to the Finals in 25 years, giving them an edge that’s hard to argue against. 

Everything is circular. There’s only one way for all this to end, bringing it back to the Warriors. 

The story has been told enough: The Warriors chose James Wiseman at No. 2 overall, and let’s just say it didn’t work out. The Wiseman era was interrupted by injuries, sure. The Warriors won a championship without him, and the results spoke for themselves when he did play. 

Wiseman was traded to the Detroit Pistons the next season and spent all of last year there. He played a career-high 63 games in 2023-24, but then was looking for his third team while still 23 years old at the time. The Pacers inked him at the opening of free agency, and Wiseman lasted one game on his newest team – to no fault of his own. 

Another injury wiped out another full season. Wiseman scored six points in the first quarter of the Pacers’ season opener, and then … snap! Wiseman slowly collapsed to center court in Detroit after missing a three. He tore his Achilles, ending his season, and the Pacers traded him to the Raptors at this season’s deadline in exchange for a trade exception. 

After all that, Wiseman has a chance to technically be the one and only two-time champion from the Class of 2020 in seasons he played a combined four minutes and 28 seconds. For all that he’s endured, Wiseman deserves the good fortune of a possible Pacers championship and a second ring to wear if they win and choose to award him one.

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The Indiana Pacers reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 as they beat the New York Knicks 125-108 in game six of the Eastern Conference finals.

Pascal Siakam maintained his impressive form to be named MVP of the series after recording 31 points and three blocked shots on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Siakam scored over 30 points in three of four victories for the Pacers, who won the series 4-2.

The Pacers will face Western Conference winners the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, which begin on Thursday.

Siakam, a nine-year veteran who won the title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, said: "After a bad game five, we wanted to bounce back and I have 100% belief in my team-mates. Whenever we're down, we find a way, and we did that tonight."

Looking back to when he was an NBA champion, Siakam said: "That year was my third year, I was this young kid. I thought it was going to be easy [to get back].

"I appreciate it even more now because I know how hard it is to get here."

Speaking about Siakam, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle added: "So deserving. The guy has been a rock of consistency all year."

Tyrese Haliburton also starred for the hosts, adding 21 points, 13 assists and three steals, while Obi Toppin scored 18 points off the bench.

"It's a special feeling to do it with this group," Haliburton said. "We got to the same spot last year and we fell short. We worked our tails off to get back here."

For the Knicks, OG Anunoby top-scored with 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points as the visitors fell short after conceding 18 turnovers.

The first quarter was a tight affair as the Pacers led 25-24 before stretching their lead to four points by the end of the first half.

Pacers took control in the third quarter, which began with a 9-0 run, to end the Knicks' resistance and claim the series win.

• Thunder make NBA finals but have 'more work to do'

When the dust finally settles from the Knicks' season-ending loss to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, a considerable chunk of the summer chatter will center around the job security of head coach Tom Thibodeau.

The debates among fans and pundits haven't cooled down. Some believe the veteran coach deserves another season to guide the Knicks' current core, while others contend a fresh face sharing a new philosophy is needed for the franchise to finally reach championship heights.

Thibodeau's seat isn't as hot as it used to be -- there were rumblings about his future back in April, before the Knicks faced the underdog Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. A disappointing finish to the 2024-25 season can't erase their overachievements, and captain Jalen Brunson emphatically believes his coach is fit to continue leading the group.

"Is that a real question right now?" Brunson said after the Game 6 loss to the Pacers on Saturday night. "You just asked me if I believe he's the right guy? Yes."

The Knicks didn't play a disciplined brand of basketball with a long-coveted trip to the NBA Finals up for grabs. They comitted a whopping 93 turnovers across six games against the Pacers, and conceded 23.3 points on average from those blunders alone. Throughout the series, Indiana was tougher and more resilient.

Of course, not all fingers can be pointed toward Thibodeau for the Knicks' shortcomings. His job is restricted to the bench and sideline. But there isn't a single Knicks fan who could seriously argue Thibodeau coached a better series than Pacers veteran Rick Carlisle. In a battle of wits and scheme, it was practically no contest.

But the Knicks still earned their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals with mental fortitude and timely starpower, and even Carlisle recognizes how Thibodeau has helped reshape the franchise's image since assuming the head coaching job in 2020.

"The Knicks were an unreal opponent," Carlisle said. "Tough-minded, always coming at you. After the game, they showed great class with all the interactions I had with those guys. I mentioned the job that Thibs has done there. He's turned the culture completely flipped from where it was."

Thibodeau, who turned 67 in January, signed a three-year contract extension with the Knicks last summer that keeps him with the team through the 2027-28 season. Only time will tell if he sticks around for the handful of seasons remaining on his deal.

Jalen Brunson was asked if he has confidence that Tom Thibodeau is the right coach for the Knicks moving forward:

"Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe if he's the right guy. Yes." pic.twitter.com/FRjCO8genL

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025

Saturday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals didn't end the way the Knicks wanted after losing to the Indiana Pacers, 125-108, ending their season.

While it's hard to look on the bright side after a disappointing end to the campaign -- one that was two wins away from New York being in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 -- Jalen Brunson was asked what positives could be taken from an otherwise successful year.

"I think the way this team progressed this year, for me, it was fun," Brunson said after the loss. "A lot of people saying we couldn’t do a lot of things, a lot of negativity around what we were trying to accomplish and the way we kind of put blinders on and went to work, that’s what I’m most proud of with this team."

After finishing with their best record since the 2012-13 season, the Knicks showed a lot of grit and were able to play through tons of adversity.

Whether it was Brunson's injury toward the end of the season, losing every regular season game against the top teams in the NBA in the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, or going further in the playoffs than most thought they would, the Knicks proved a lot of doubters wrong.

Not to mention, the onslaught of critics of head coach Tom Thibodeau, and how the addition of new players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges would fit in his system.

"You make the moves to win so it hurts. It hurts not to be able to bring an opportunity to the city for a championship," Towns said. "We got a bunch of great guys in that locker room and the plan now is to just put ourselves in this position again and succeed next time."

And while it's hard to think about in this moment, the Knicks, indeed, are set up for success in the future.

Not only have they improved their regular season record over the last four years, they've played deeper into the postseason in each season too.

And if you ask Brunson if he thinks this team has the mettle to take that final leap, it isn't even a question.

"The most confidence. Over-confident, seriously," he said. "There’s not an ounce of any type of doubt that I’m not confident in this group."

"You’re always gonna hear me say run it back," Josh Hart added. "I think I said the same thing last year of the guys that we had. I’d like to do it, I feel like this team is good enough to make the next step."

Hart continued: "I think we handled adversity well. I think we grew as a team. There were good moments and bad moments, just like every season. We’ll continue to make strides, continue to improve."

While looking toward the future can be a mini escape of what just transpired, nobody on the Knicks is pleased with the result of the season. Not yet, at least.

"Sucks man. Simple as that. It sucks," Brunson said.

The Knicks knew they needed to fix their alarming turnover issue in order to survive a do-or-die road Game 6 against the Pacers and push the Eastern Conference Finals to a pivotal Game 7 at home. But no plan was put into action once they stepped onto the court with the season on the line. The glaring trend ultimately caused their demise.

Careless possessions and poor communication burned the Knicks again on Saturday night, as a whopping 18 turnovers that produced 34 points sealed their fate in a season-ending 125-108 loss to the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Their hopes of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in over a quarter-century were swiftly dashed.

There wasn't a turnover conundrum for the Knicks during the regular season. They averaged the fifth-fewest across that 82-game slate (13.3), and during the first two rounds of the playoffs, their mark was slightly lower (12.9). But an average of 15.5 turnovers in six East Finals contests fueled the Pacers in transition and shaped several outcomes.

"They played well, they played fast. Turnovers were tough for us," Knicks guard Josh Hart said after the loss. "We had some lapses in communication. In the postseason, you can't do that. You can't give away possesions, you can't give away games. You've got to tip your cap to them... You can't give away games in the playoffs. It's tough. We're all disappointed and frustrated."

The stunning swings the Knicks endured throughout the series were triggered by mediocre ball control, and the Pacers took full advantage of those blunders. New York's average turnover mark resulted in Indiana posting 23.3 points per game on those mistakes and 17.6 points per game on the fast break.

No surprise, the Knicks' biggest catalyst was also their biggest culprit. Of the 93 total turnovers committed against the Pacers, de facto captain Jalen Brunson was responsible for one-quarter of them (24). Karl-Anthony Towns also gave the ball up 16 total times in the series, and the team's All-Star tandem combined for only 41 points in Game 6. Each Knicks starter finished Saturday with a plus-minus mark in the negative teens.

"It's definitely tough to look ahead, but even when you win, it's always about what's next," Brunson said. "Regardless, we're going to go into the summer and going to work. We're going to get better and figure out a way how we can change this outcome. It's going to start with us and our mentality, making sure we've got to take it one game at a time. We can't jump right back to the Conference Finals."

The renewed playoff rivalry was centered around discipline. In the first five games of the series, the Knicks conceded 106 points on 75 turnovers, while only logging 46 points off of the Pacers' giveaways. The Knicks also turned the ball over 15-plus times in five of their six meetings.

The Knicks lost Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers, 125-108, ending their season on Saturday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-Things started off well for New York, who jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the early minutes, but it went downhill from there. The Pacers took the lead on a Pascal Siakam two-pointer with 7:34 left in the first and never looked back.

The Knicks did take the lead once more in the first quarter, following Mitchell Robinson's alley-oop dunk with 2:31 left, but Indiana had control of the game throughout the night.

-Turnovers dictated the game in this onem as New York gave it up 17 times compared to the Pacers' 12. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each had five turnovers.

-Offensively, the Knicks couldn't get enough going to outmatch the Pacers, who leaned on Siakam (31 points), Tyrese Haliburton (21 points) and Obi Toppin (18 points) off the bench. In fact, all five starters for Indiana ended the night in double-digits and its bench outscored New York's 38-20.

-Needing a big game from its stars, New York got disappointing results from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson finished with 19 points and seven assists, while Towns finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. They combined to go 2-for-11 from deep as the Knicks as a whole didn't shoot well from beyond the arc (9-for-32).

-On the other side, the Pacers were lights-out, especially from three, shooting 52 percent. Seven players made at least two threes.

-Surprisingly, Josh Hart only logged 22 minutes off the bench and finished with four points, six rebounds, three steals and one assist.

-Down just four points at halftime after OG Anunoby hit a two-pointer at the buzzer, the Knicks came out of the locker room and were outscored 34-23 in the third quarter, which spelled the beginning of the end.

-Indiana's scoring onslaught didn't stop in the fourth quarter and New York's defense wasn't nearly good enough, either.

-Despite outrebounding the Pacers, the Knicks couldn't get the extra looks to go down. Meanwhile, Indiana took advantage of New York's turnovers at every turn.

Game MVP: Pascal Siakam

He had a game-high 31 points in 36 minutes and shot well from the field and the free-throw line. He also added three blocks and one steal on the defensive end. After the game, he was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP.

Highlights

Jalen Brunson gets the Knicks on the board!

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/1nc5zNqZ8e

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025

LANDRY SHAMET FROM THE CORNER 🎯 pic.twitter.com/NDwy3o9Fce

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025

OG getting to work 💪 pic.twitter.com/FeOhLTgr0b

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025

OG AT THE BUZZER pic.twitter.com/laD2HwaLw5

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025

Alley-oop to Robinson! pic.twitter.com/zLsYrprBY2

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) June 1, 2025

What's next

A long summer of reflection and meetings to improve the roster.

And with that, an era ends: ‘Thanks for watching us. It's the NBA on TNT' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Ernie Johnson could barely get the words out.

The run of “Inside the NBA” on TNT came to an end on Saturday night, after nearly four decades as a fixture of the league. The show will move to ESPN and ABC next season — and keep Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley together, still doing most shows from Atlanta — but the final TNT sign-off was an emotional one.

“I’m proud to say for the last time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT,'” Johnson said, before turning his back to the camera, placing his microphone on the desk and getting up from that set for the final time.

NBA games will not be airing on TNT starting next season when the league’s new television package kicks in — an 11-year media rights deal worth at least $76 billion, one that keeps games on ABC and ESPN, brings the league back to NBC and starts a new relationship with Amazon Prime Video.

ABC will broadcast the NBA Finals, meaning the end of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and New York was the end of TNT’s run. Turner Sports first acquired an NBA package in 1984 and games were on TNT since the network launched in 1988.

“Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” O’Neal said during the final broadcast. “And to that new network we’re coming to, we’re not coming to (expletive) around. … We’re taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.”

The moment was not lost on Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. His team had just clinched a spot in the NBA Finals by beating New York, and when his brief interview with Johnson during the trophy ceremony was over, Carlisle grabbed the microphone out of the host’s hands.

“Congratulations to TNT on a fabulous, unbelievable run that’s coming to an end,” Carlisle said in the unprompted tribute. “We’re all very sad about that.”

The names of countless past and current broadcasters and analysts were included in the many tributes offered on-air after the game, including Doug Collins, Hubie Brown, Dick Stockton, Cheryl Miller, Danny Ainge, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Mike Fratello, Marv Albert, Brian Anderson, Chris Webber, Candace Parker and Craig Sager.

“Our hearts are full of gratitude,” TNT’s Kevin Harlan said on-air, speaking to the viewers. “Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.”

Harlan had the play-by-play call for the final game, with Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce on the broadcast as well.

“Think about my life. I’m very fortunate,” Miller said. “I’ve only known two things: 18 years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers, and 19 years with Turner.”

Many members of the TNT production crew have gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon, Johnson said, because of their exemplary work to this point. “Best production crew in the business, I might add,” Johnson said.

And when it turned back to the “Inside the NBA” crew for one last time on TNT, the emotions were clear.

“This has just been a magnificent ride,” Smith said.

Barkley talked about how he was going to sign with NBC when starting his broadcast career, then switched to TNT.

“I just want to say thank you to the NBA,” Barkley said. “Every coach I’ve had, every player I’ve played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had. I am so lucky and blessed. I’m lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we’ll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life.”

And with that, an era ends: ‘Thanks for watching us. It's the NBA on TNT' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Ernie Johnson could barely get the words out.

The run of “Inside the NBA” on TNT came to an end on Saturday night, after nearly four decades as a fixture of the league. The show will move to ESPN and ABC next season — and keep Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley together, still doing most shows from Atlanta — but the final TNT sign-off was an emotional one.

“I’m proud to say for the last time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT,'” Johnson said, before turning his back to the camera, placing his microphone on the desk and getting up from that set for the final time.

NBA games will not be airing on TNT starting next season when the league’s new television package kicks in — an 11-year media rights deal worth at least $76 billion, one that keeps games on ABC and ESPN, brings the league back to NBC and starts a new relationship with Amazon Prime Video.

ABC will broadcast the NBA Finals, meaning the end of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and New York was the end of TNT’s run. Turner Sports first acquired an NBA package in 1984 and games were on TNT since the network launched in 1988.

“Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” O’Neal said during the final broadcast. “And to that new network we’re coming to, we’re not coming to (expletive) around. … We’re taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.”

The moment was not lost on Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. His team had just clinched a spot in the NBA Finals by beating New York, and when his brief interview with Johnson during the trophy ceremony was over, Carlisle grabbed the microphone out of the host’s hands.

“Congratulations to TNT on a fabulous, unbelievable run that’s coming to an end,” Carlisle said in the unprompted tribute. “We’re all very sad about that.”

The names of countless past and current broadcasters and analysts were included in the many tributes offered on-air after the game, including Doug Collins, Hubie Brown, Dick Stockton, Cheryl Miller, Danny Ainge, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Mike Fratello, Marv Albert, Brian Anderson, Chris Webber, Candace Parker and Craig Sager.

“Our hearts are full of gratitude,” TNT’s Kevin Harlan said on-air, speaking to the viewers. “Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.”

Harlan had the play-by-play call for the final game, with Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce on the broadcast as well.

“Think about my life. I’m very fortunate,” Miller said. “I’ve only known two things: 18 years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers, and 19 years with Turner.”

Many members of the TNT production crew have gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon, Johnson said, because of their exemplary work to this point. “Best production crew in the business, I might add,” Johnson said.

And when it turned back to the “Inside the NBA” crew for one last time on TNT, the emotions were clear.

“This has just been a magnificent ride,” Smith said.

Barkley talked about how he was going to sign with NBC when starting his broadcast career, then switched to TNT.

“I just want to say thank you to the NBA,” Barkley said. “Every coach I’ve had, every player I’ve played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had. I am so lucky and blessed. I’m lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we’ll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life.”

Pacers defeat Knicks in Game 6 to advance to NBA Finals vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Pascal Siakam scored 31 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 13 assists, and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday night to reach the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.

Obi Toppin added 18 points and six rebounds against his former team as the gold-clad crowd gave the starters a roaring ovation when they departed with 47.2 seconds left.

Indiana will visit Oklahoma City for Game 1 on Thursday night.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 19 points as the Pacers’ relentless ball pressure forced New York into 17 turnovers.

The Knicks still have not reached the Finals since 1999, and they couldn’t extend the series in a game that was tough and physical right from the start.

Whether it was Towns limping after drawing a foul or Haliburton holding his jaw when he took a shot that knocked him to the ground, the tone was set early — and never really changed with so much at stake.

Indiana finally broke open a close game by opening the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 78-63 lead courtesy of three straight 3-pointers — two from Thomas Bryant and one from Andrew Nembhard. The run ignited the crowd, which included everyone from Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson to WNBA star Caitlin Clark to Timothee Chalamet to Kylie Jenner.

But when the Knicks answered with eight straight to cut the deficit to 78-71, the Pacers responded with another 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game and the Knicks were forced to play catch-up the rest of the night.

Pacers star and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was on the 1999-2000 Pacers team that made The Finals, served as the color analyst for TNT’s final broadcast.

New York was trying to become the 14th team in league history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. It hasn’t won a title since 1973.

Pacers defeat Knicks in Game 6 to advance to NBA Finals vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Pascal Siakam scored 31 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 13 assists, and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday night to reach the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.

Obi Toppin added 18 points and six rebounds against his former team as the gold-clad crowd gave the starters a roaring ovation when they departed with 47.2 seconds left.

Indiana will visit Oklahoma City for Game 1 on Thursday night.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 19 points as the Pacers’ relentless ball pressure forced New York into 17 turnovers.

The Knicks still have not reached the Finals since 1999, and they couldn’t extend the series in a game that was tough and physical right from the start.

Whether it was Towns limping after drawing a foul or Haliburton holding his jaw when he took a shot that knocked him to the ground, the tone was set early — and never really changed with so much at stake.

Indiana finally broke open a close game by opening the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 78-63 lead courtesy of three straight 3-pointers — two from Thomas Bryant and one from Andrew Nembhard. The run ignited the crowd, which included everyone from Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson to WNBA star Caitlin Clark to Timothee Chalamet to Kylie Jenner.

But when the Knicks answered with eight straight to cut the deficit to 78-71, the Pacers responded with another 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game and the Knicks were forced to play catch-up the rest of the night.

Pacers star and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was on the 1999-2000 Pacers team that made The Finals, served as the color analyst for TNT’s final broadcast.

New York was trying to become the 14th team in league history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. It hasn’t won a title since 1973.

And with that, an era ends: ‘Thanks for watching us. It's the NBA on TNT' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Ernie Johnson could barely get the words out.

The run of “Inside the NBA” on TNT came to an end on Saturday night, after nearly four decades as a fixture of the league. The show will move to ESPN and ABC next season — and keep Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley together, still doing most shows from Atlanta — but the final TNT sign-off was an emotional one.

“I’m proud to say for the last time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT,'” Johnson said, before turning his back to the camera, placing his microphone on the desk and getting up from that set for the final time.

NBA games will not be airing on TNT starting next season when the league’s new television package kicks in — an 11-year media rights deal worth at least $76 billion, one that keeps games on ABC and ESPN, brings the league back to NBC and starts a new relationship with Amazon Prime Video.

ABC will broadcast the NBA Finals, meaning the end of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and New York was the end of TNT’s run. Turner Sports first acquired an NBA package in 1984 and games were on TNT since the network launched in 1988.

“Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” O’Neal said during the final broadcast. “And to that new network we’re coming to, we’re not coming to (expletive) around. … We’re taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.”

The moment was not lost on Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. His team had just clinched a spot in the NBA Finals by beating New York, and when his brief interview with Johnson during the trophy ceremony was over, Carlisle grabbed the microphone out of the host’s hands.

“Congratulations to TNT on a fabulous, unbelievable run that’s coming to an end,” Carlisle said in the unprompted tribute. “We’re all very sad about that.”

The names of countless past and current broadcasters and analysts were included in the many tributes offered on-air after the game, including Doug Collins, Hubie Brown, Dick Stockton, Cheryl Miller, Danny Ainge, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Mike Fratello, Marv Albert, Brian Anderson, Chris Webber, Candace Parker and Craig Sager.

“Our hearts are full of gratitude,” TNT’s Kevin Harlan said on-air, speaking to the viewers. “Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.”

Harlan had the play-by-play call for the final game, with Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce on the broadcast as well.

“Think about my life. I’m very fortunate,” Miller said. “I’ve only known two things: 18 years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers, and 19 years with Turner.”

Many members of the TNT production crew have gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon, Johnson said, because of their exemplary work to this point. “Best production crew in the business, I might add,” Johnson said.

And when it turned back to the “Inside the NBA” crew for one last time on TNT, the emotions were clear.

“This has just been a magnificent ride,” Smith said.

Barkley talked about how he was going to sign with NBC when starting his broadcast career, then switched to TNT.

“I just want to say thank you to the NBA,” Barkley said. “Every coach I’ve had, every player I’ve played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had. I am so lucky and blessed. I’m lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we’ll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life.”

Pacers defeat Knicks in Game 6 to advance to NBA Finals vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Pascal Siakam scored 31 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 13 assists, and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday night to reach the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.

Obi Toppin added 18 points and six rebounds against his former team as the gold-clad crowd gave the starters a roaring ovation when they departed with 47.2 seconds left.

Indiana will visit Oklahoma City for Game 1 on Thursday night.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 19 points as the Pacers’ relentless ball pressure forced New York into 17 turnovers.

The Knicks still have not reached the Finals since 1999, and they couldn’t extend the series in a game that was tough and physical right from the start.

Whether it was Towns limping after drawing a foul or Haliburton holding his jaw when he took a shot that knocked him to the ground, the tone was set early — and never really changed with so much at stake.

Indiana finally broke open a close game by opening the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 78-63 lead courtesy of three straight 3-pointers — two from Thomas Bryant and one from Andrew Nembhard. The run ignited the crowd, which included everyone from Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson to WNBA star Caitlin Clark to Timothee Chalamet to Kylie Jenner.

But when the Knicks answered with eight straight to cut the deficit to 78-71, the Pacers responded with another 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game and the Knicks were forced to play catch-up the rest of the night.

Pacers star and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was on the 1999-2000 Pacers team that made The Finals, served as the color analyst for TNT’s final broadcast.

New York was trying to become the 14th team in league history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. It hasn’t won a title since 1973.

It’s no easy task to keep the faith after your team falls behind 3-1 in a series, but the Knicks fans doing so in the face of a dynamic Pacers team have good reason to eschew history. While no team has ever come back from losing the first two home games of a conference finals, and just one team has come back from a 3-1 deficit, this roster is uniquely suited to pull off a miracle.

For all the questions about its toughness and identity, one thing this Knicks team has proven itself time and again is resilient. They did it in the regular season, in the biggest moments of the 2025 NBA playoffs, and now have a chance to do it again. 

Many teams would buckle at a ground-moving trade like the one New York made the night before training camp, trading two starters from the previous year for Karl-Anthony Towns. He’d be a late show to camp due to the deal, while the returning Knicks still had to adjust to one new starter and the emotional aftershock from the trade. 

Despite this, an opening night whooping from the Boston Celtics and an up-and-down start to the year, the Knicks would bounce back with a massive December, losing just two games in the month en route to a 24-10 start to the season. They’d continue through the regular season with the most available rotation in the league, constantly playing through injuries and some of the highest minute and miles loads across the NBA. 

Then, as the season neared its end, Jalen Brunson, the team’s captain and MVP candidate, went down with an ankle injury. With a month to play until he’d return and playoff seeding on the line, the Knicks would once again respond, staying afloat with a 9-6 record over a West Coast swing.

The playoffs brought them little relief, as their first test was the physical and hungry Detroit Pistons. The up-and-coming squad pushed them in their first game at MSG, controlling the contest from the jump and going up double digits in the second half.

The Knicks responded with a massive 40-21 fourth quarter to defend home court, their first of many playoff comebacks this year. They would lose Game 2 at home, but come back with two gutsy road wins, both by single-possession margins, and eventually seal the series on the road in Game 6.

Then came the mighty Celtics, who, as the hoops media repeatedly reminded us all, went 4-0 against the Knicks in the regular season in dominant fashion. This didn’t dissuade the Knicks from competing, even as they fell behind by 20 in Game 1 on the road.

New York pushed its way back, forcing overtime and stealing home-court advantage there. Game 2 was almost a near-repeat, as once again they found themselves down 20, only to march back into striking distance down the stretch, where they’d pull off a historically massive upset in back-to-back road games. 

Even in their decisive Game 4 win to take a 3-1 lead in the series, the Knicks found themselves down double figures after the first quarter. At this point, it had almost become a meme for New York to play their best ball when all the odds were stacked against them. 

We’ve seen this carry over into this Pacers series. After losing both home games, the Knicks came back from 20 points yet again in Game 3 to keep their series alive. 

Down 3-1 and facing elimination, New York would not let itself go out on their home court on Thursday, crushing Indiana to force a Game 6 on Saturday night. One more win and they’ll find themselves in a one-game series, at Madison Square Garden, with all the momentum on their side.

So while many have written off this Knicks season given their predicament, the ones who have stayed positive may be onto something. Because this New York team is far tougher than meets the eye, and has proven that time and time again in getting here.

They may not be able to complete the comeback, but to count them out is going against everything they’ve been this season.