The Indiana Pacers set a new record in their win against the Knicks, as they shot 67.1% from the field, with 53/79 field goals made. This is the highest field goal percentage by any team in NBA playoff history, marginally beating the previous record of 67% set by the Boston Celtics.
The Indiana Pacers 67.1 FG% (53-79 FGM) in Game 7 is the highest field goal percentage in any playoff game in NBA history.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/Z9OtnvSaTL
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 19, 2024
Interestingly, both the Celtics and the Pacers set these records against the New York Knicks. Granted, the two Knicks teams were vastly different 34 years apart, but it is a fascinating coincidence. The record for the highest field goal percentage in Game 7 prior to the Pacers’ record-setting performance was held by the 2006 Phoenix Suns against the Los Angeles Lakers, with 61%.
It cannot go understated how impressive a performance it was from the Pacers. Led by Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers shot the lights out at Madison Square Garden. Haliburton led the Pacers in scoring with 26 points, with both Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam scoring 20 points each.
In fact, the only Pacers player to shoot below 50% from the field was Obi Toppin, who went 1/4 against his former team. It was without a doubt, the most efficient scoring performance in NBA playoff history, and really underlines just how solid the Pacers were in a closeout game. What makes the Pacers’ performance even more impressive is the fact that they did it playing in The Garden, one of the most hostile playoff environments ever.
The Pacers will set their eyes on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals coming up. While the Celtics will still be the heavy favorites, a performance like this from the Pacers will make people think twice about selecting Boston to go through to the NBA Finals.
The Indiana Pacers Could Shock The Boston Celtics
The Pacers have proven to NBA fans that they can compete with the best teams in the league, and just because they are not the favorites, that does not mean that they should be ruled out. And the Pacers have even punished teams for overlooking them during this playoff run.
In Game 6 of their series against New York, the Knicks players all came dressed in funeral clothes, hinting that they were going to put the Pacers and the series to rest. This backfired greatly on the Knicks, as the Pacers would defeat them in Game 6 to force a Game 7 trip back to New York.
The fact that the Pacers were able to beat the Knicks in not just a Game 7, but a Game 7 at The Garden is seriously impressive. Knicks fans are known to be some of the most passionate and vocal fans in the NBA, and playing in front of them as an away team can be very difficult.
Reggie Miller once described the feeling of playing at The Garden as playing 5 vs. 8, as their fans are akin to extra players on the court for them. But of course, Miller knows a thing or two about silencing Knicks fans, and tonight, Tyrese Haliburton showed that he could be a menace to Knicks fans as well.
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