INDIANA Pacers eliminated Milwaukee Bucks with a 120-98 beating in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference first round playoffs on Thursday night (Friday in the Philippines) at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Obi Toppin spearheaded the offense with 21 points to go with eight rebounds, while TJ McConnell added 20 points and nine assists as the Pacers won the best-of-seven series at 4-2.
Paskal Siakam finished with 19 points, Tyrese Haliburton had a double-double of 17 points and 10 assists, while Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard contributed 15 and 14, respectively, for Indiana.
The Pacers went to work early as they established a 33-24 first quarter lead behind the early offense of McConnell and Toppin. It grew to 59-47 at the half on a second quarter exploits of Toppin.
Indiana continued its run in the third period with consecutive connections from Siakam and McConnell as they lead swelled to 93-78 before reaching its biggest at 118-94 with a minute left in the game.
Damian Lillard top-scored with 28 points, Bobby Portis had a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton contributed 20 and 14 markers, respectively, for the Bucks.
Meanwhile, New York Knicks showed steadiness in the endgame to eliminate Philadelphia 76ers, 118-115, in Game 6 of their first round series at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
From a 111-all score with under a minute left, the Knicks surged to a 116-113 lead behind a three-pointer from Josh Hart and two free throws from Donte DiVincenzo.
The 76ers cut the deficit to 115-116 on two free throws by Tyrese Maxey, but the Knicks responded with two freebies from Jalen Brunson to secure the win.
Brunson finished with a double-double of 41 points and 12 assists, DiVincenzo added 23 markers, while OJ Anunoby, Hart, and Isaiah Hartenstein had 19, 16, and 14, respectively, for the Knicks./PN
BOX SCORE:
INDIANA 120 — Toppin 21, McConnell 20, Siakam 19, Haliburton 17, Nesmith 15, Nembhard 14, Turner 5, Jackson 4, Sheppard 3, Brown 2, Johnson 0, Walker 0, McDermott 0.
MILWAUKEE 98 — Lillard 28, Lopez 20, Portis 20, Middleton 14, Beverley 6, Connaughton 3, Beasley 2, Jackson 2, Livingston 2, Gallinari 1, Green 0, T. Antetokounmpo 0, Beauchamp 0.
Quarterscores: 33-24, 59-47, 93-78, 120-98.
