So here we were—Game 7. Knicks vs Pacers. The kind of matchup that already had tension written all over it before the ball even tipped. Madison Square Garden was loud, hopeful, desperate even. This wasn’t just another playoff game; it felt heavier, like something was going to snap.
Both teams came in battered, but it was the Pacers who came out shooting like they had something to prove—and man, they didn’t miss much. The Knicks tried to fight back, but injuries started catching up. Jalen Brunson? Gone before he could do much. OG tried to give it a go, but you could tell he wasn’t right.
We’re breaking this one down the only way that makes sense—by going deep into the knicks vs pacers match player stats. Because sometimes numbers don’t lie, and this time, they’ll help tell the full story of why this Game 7 ended the way it did.
Knicks vs Pacers Match Player Stats: Full Breakdown
Game 7 at Madison Square Garden wasn’t just another playoff elimination game—it was a 48-minute storm where the Indiana Pacers walked into enemy territory and set the court on fire. Final score? Pacers 130, Knicks 109. But that number doesn’t even scratch the surface of what actually happened out there.
From the jump, Indiana came out with pace, precision, and ridiculous efficiency. By the end of the first quarter, it was already clear this wasn’t going to be a grind-it-out defensive battle. The Pacers dropped 39 points in the first 12 minutes and didn’t let off the gas. They shot the lights out—literally. No, really. They hit 76% of their shots in the first half. That’s not basketball, that’s target practice.
The Knicks tried to respond. They clawed back in the second quarter and even managed to cut it to single digits for a moment. But every time they got a little momentum, Haliburton or Nembhard would hit a tough three or Siakam would glide through the lane like it was empty. The Pacers never looked rattled. Never pressed.
The shooting performance? Historic. Indiana finished the night shooting 67.1% from the field—the best mark ever recorded in an NBA playoff game. Not just for a quarter or a half, but for the whole game. It was the kind of night where it felt like they couldn’t miss, and frankly, they didn’t.
For the Knicks, it was less about effort and more about running into a buzzsaw at exactly the wrong time.
Team Performance Comparison
You look at the box score and, on paper, this shouldn’t have been a blowout. The Knicks didn’t play badly. In fact, they shot 51% from the field—that’s usually more than enough to win a playoff game. But not when the other team is basically shooting like they’re in a practice gym. The Pacers put up a jaw-dropping 67.1% from the field, the best ever in NBA playoff history. That’s not just hot—it’s historic.
And it wasn’t like they were just dunking everything, either. Mid-range, floaters, contested pull-ups—they were falling from everywhere. The Knicks actually out-shot them from deep, hitting 14-of-30 from three (46%), while Indiana went 11-of-33 (33%). That’s a rare case of a team winning by 21 despite losing the three-point battle. Why? Because Indiana made everything else.
On the boards, the Knicks dominated with 48 rebounds to the Pacers’ 39. That usually signals toughness, second-chance points, hustle—all the gritty stuff that wins playoff games. But it didn’t matter. The Pacers didn’t give them enough chances to make those rebounds count. They simply weren’t missing.
Assists were close too—New York had 28, Indiana 23—showing that both teams were sharing the ball well. But again, efficiency wins out. The Knicks had 11 turnovers compared to the Pacers’ 15, so even in the mistake column, New York had an edge.
| Stat | Knicks | Pacers |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 51% | 67.1% |
| 3-Point Shooting | 14-of-30 (46%) | 11-of-33 (33%) |
| Rebounds | 48 | 39 |
| Assists | 28 | 23 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 15 |
All the hustle stats leaned toward the Knicks, and still, it wasn’t close. That’s how absurdly efficient the Pacers were. When a team shoots 67% across four quarters, none of the usual metrics matter as much. It’s like bringing a knife to a laser fight. You’re competing, but you’re just not equipped for what’s coming at you.
Individual Player Performances
Game 7s bring out something different in players. It’s not just about stats—it’s about who shows up when everything is on the line. And while both teams had big names and bigger expectations, the Indiana Pacers were the ones who delivered when it mattered most. Still, it wasn’t for a lack of effort from the New York Knicks.
| Team | Player | Points | Assists | Rebounds | 3PT / FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knicks | Donte DiVincenzo | 39 | 2 | 4 | 9-of-15 3PT |
| Knicks | Alec Burks | 26 | 2 | 4 | — |
| Knicks | Jalen Brunson | 17 | 9 | 2 | — |
| Knicks | Josh Hart | 6 | 3 | 5 | — |
| Knicks | OG Anunoby | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| Pacers | Tyrese Haliburton | 26 | 6 | 4 | 6-of-12 3PT |
| Pacers | Andrew Nembhard | 20 | 6 | 5 | 8-of-10 FG |
| Pacers | Pascal Siakam | 20 | 4 | 4 | — |
| Pacers | Myles Turner | 17 | 1 | 5 | — |
| Pacers | Aaron Nesmith | 19 | 1 | 2 | 8-of-8 FG |
New York Knicks
Let’s start with Donte DiVincenzo. If there was one bright spot in the Knicks’ loss, it was him. He poured in 39 points and went 9-of-15 from three—those aren’t just good numbers, they’re historic. His nine triples were the most ever in a Game 7. He did everything he could to keep the Knicks in it. Whenever the crowd needed a reason to believe, Donte gave them one. But one man can only carry so much.
Alec Burks, who had been almost invisible in the earlier parts of the series, suddenly came alive off the bench. He dropped 26 points, hitting tough shots and getting to the line. That was the kind of veteran spark you hope for, but the Knicks needed more than sparks—they needed a fire.
Jalen Brunson, the engine of New York’s offense all season long, just didn’t have enough time to make his usual impact. He had 17 points and 9 assists, but he exited the game with a fractured hand midway through the third. That moment might’ve been the turning point. You could feel the air go out of the building. Without him, their playmaking stalled, and the offensive rhythm never really returned.
Josh Hart tried to tough it out, playing through an abdominal injury. He fought, hustled, grabbed boards, but eventually fouled out. You could see the frustration—he wanted to do more, but his body just wasn’t up for it. Same story with OG Anunoby, who tried to give it a go after missing time with a hamstring issue. He checked in, looked rusty, and checked out just as quickly.
In the end, the Knicks had heart, but the pieces just weren’t all there.
Indiana Pacers
On the other side, everything clicked. Tyrese Haliburton was locked in from the first quarter. He finished with 26 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and hit 6-of-12 from deep. Every time the Knicks cut into the lead, Haliburton answered—sometimes with a deep three, other times with a slick dime. He played with total control, and never looked rattled by the MSG pressure.
Andrew Nembhard was maybe the biggest surprise. He scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting and added 6 assists and 5 rebounds. He played like a veteran, not a second-year guard. He got into the lane, hit floaters, and made smart reads. The Knicks had no answer for him.
Pascal Siakam did his usual quiet damage—20 points, 4 boards, 4 assists. He didn’t force anything, just picked his spots and finished plays when it counted. Myles Turner was a presence on both ends: 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks. His defense in the paint made it tough for New York’s guards to finish inside.
And then there was Aaron Nesmith—19 points, perfect 8-of-8 shooting. Not a miss. He cut to the rim, hit open shots, and just seemed to be in the right place every time. On a night when your team shoots 67%, someone is going to have a flawless night. For the Pacers, it was Nesmith.
What made the difference? Indiana’s guys played within the system, trusted each other, and made smart, efficient plays. The Knicks had moments, individual heroics, but the Pacers had flow—and that’s what wins games like this.
Strategic Analysis
Game 7 wasn’t just about who scored more—it was about how they did it. Strategy, execution, and adjustments shaped every possession, and when the dust settled, Indiana outplayed New York in the details.
Knicks’ Strategy
The Knicks came in with a defense-first mindset, which has been their identity all season. But that strategy took a big hit with injuries. OG Anunoby was clearly not himself and played just a few limited minutes. Josh Hart, who’s usually a defensive bulldog, was hobbling with an abdominal strain and eventually fouled out. With Jalen Brunson exiting due to a broken hand, the Knicks were scrambling to keep their rotations steady. The lack of healthy bodies forced Tom Thibodeau to lean heavily on Alec Burks and DiVincenzo, and while they provided offense, it hurt them defensively.
On offense, New York leaned hard into perimeter shooting. They shot well—46% from deep—but it became too predictable. Without Brunson organizing the half-court sets or driving to collapse the defense, the Knicks became one-dimensional. Most possessions ended with isolation threes or contested shots late in the clock. There was little rhythm or paint presence, which allowed Indiana to recover easily on closeouts and secure rebounds.
Pacers’ Strategy
Indiana, on the other hand, looked like a machine. Their offensive game plan emphasized spacing, constant ball movement, and attacking mismatches. Tyrese Haliburton ran the offense with surgical precision, often breaking down defenders off pick-and-rolls and either finding shooters or creating his own shot. The Pacers finished the game shooting a historic 67.1% from the field—not because of luck, but because of clean looks and selfless play.
Defensively, Indiana adjusted smartly. They targeted the Knicks’ injury-riddled lineup, switching aggressively and pressuring ball handlers to force tough shots. Their transition defense tightened after the first quarter, and once Brunson left, they fully took control by choking off driving lanes and forcing New York into jumpers. It was efficient, clinical basketball at both ends.
Injury Impact
Injuries didn’t just change the game—they ended it. When Jalen Brunson exited with a fractured left hand in the third quarter, the air was sucked out of Madison Square Garden. Up to that point, Brunson had been the steady hand keeping the Knicks within striking distance. He had 17 points and 9 assists, running the offense, setting the tone, and drawing the defense. Once he went down, the Knicks lost more than just points—they lost their leader, their creator, their heartbeat.
OG Anunoby, who hadn’t played since Game 2, tried to suit up for this do-or-die battle. But it was clear right away—he wasn’t ready. He gave it a brief go, looked stiff, and quickly returned to the bench. His presence, meant to be a defensive anchor, became a non-factor.
Josh Hart played through an abdominal strain and looked like he was battling his own body all night. He hustled, dove for loose balls, tried to crash the boards—but eventually fouled out, visibly frustrated and clearly limited.
With so many core players compromised, the Knicks’ energy dipped. The bench tried to rally, but you could sense the loss of belief. The fight was there, but the foundation was broken—and Indiana took full advantage.
Historical Context & Rivalry
The Knicks and Pacers go way back in playoff history. From the hard-nosed battles of the ’90s to this modern-day showdown, the tension between these two franchises has always been real. Reggie Miller’s famous 8 points in 9 seconds? That still stings for Knicks fans. And every time they meet in the postseason, it seems like the stakes just get higher.
The Knicks have had their share of playoff rivalries—not just with the Pacers, but also with teams like the Celtics. Their recent clash with Boston had a similar high-stakes vibe. You can check out the full Knicks vs Celtics match player stats from that showdown for more insight into how this team performs under pressure.
This Game 7 adds another chapter to that long-running Knicks-Pacers saga. The result? Another heartbreak for New York and a proud moment for Indiana’s franchise legacy.
Conclusion
So, that was it—Game 7. Knicks. Pacers. Everything on the line. And yeah, it wasn’t just another playoff game. It was more like a gut check. A moment where one team showed up firing on all cylinders, and the other… well, they tried. They really did.
Indiana didn’t just win—they lit the Garden on fire. Shot nearly 70% from the floor. That’s not basketball, that’s target practice. Tyrese Haliburton looked like he was built for this. Calm, confident, no sweat. He ran the show, and every time New York pushed? Boom—Pacers had an answer.
For the Knicks, man, what a heartbreak. Jalen Brunson going down—that was the dagger. Up to that point, they had a pulse. Donte DiVincenzo was cooking, Burks stepped in like he was 22 again, but without Brunson pulling the strings, it unraveled fast. Defense got shaky. Offense got predictable.
This loss stings. No way around that. But there’s fight in this team. You could see it—even in defeat. If they get healthy, retool a bit, they’re gonna be right back in the mix next season. As for the Pacers? They’re moving on, and they earned every second of it.
FAQs
Q1: Who dropped the most points in Game 7?
A: Donte DiVincenzo. Guy went off—39 points, splashed 9 threes. Didn’t back down for a second.
Q2: How hot were the Pacers from the field?
A: Blazing. 67.1%—yeah, seriously. One of the best playoff shooting nights ever. You don’t see that often.
Q3: What about the Knicks’ injuries—how bad did that hurt ’em?
A: Huge. Brunson’s broken hand changed everything. Without him, it was patchwork. Hart and OG were banged up too, and it showed.
Q4: So… what’s next for New York?
A: Regroup. Heal up. Make some roster tweaks. They’ve got pieces—they just need everyone upright. With a little luck, they’ll be dangerous again.
Henry Philip is the Lead Publisher at VCEMagazine.com, where he delivers in-depth coverage of the sports world — from player stats and game analytics to financial profiles of elite athletes. With a background in sports journalism and data analysis, Henry tracks performance trends and off-field ventures across major leagues like MLB, NFL, NBA, and international football.
Over the years, he has profiled top stars, broken down match-day metrics, and analyzed how athletes build wealth through contracts, sponsorships, and business ventures. His work bridges the gap between on-field performance and off-field financial strategy, helping fans understand the full picture of sports success.
Whether writing about a quarterback’s clutch stats or a baseball legend’s business empire, Henry’s focus is on accuracy, insight, and trusted storytelling.