Three Stars
The three stars in ice hockey are the three best players in a game, with the “first star” considered the best of the three players, similar to the player of the match in other sports. Here are my “three stars” from yesterday’s NBA games.
First ⭐️
Pascal Siakam scored a team-high 25 points as the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 116-103 in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The teams will head back to New York for the decisive Game 7 Sunday afternoon.
Siakam made 11 of his 21 field goal attempts, adding seven rebounds, five assists, and a game-high two steals (tied with two others). He registered a rating of plus-20 points in his 31 minutes of action.
Second ⭐️
Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 31 points in the Knicks’ loss to the Pacers, 26 of them coming in the second half. Brunson was held to 11-26 shooting from the floor, although he was 9-13 after halftime following a miserable 2-13 effort through the first two quarters. He also dished out five assists and committed just one turnover in 38 minutes played.
Third ⭐️
Tyrese Haliburton tallied 15 points, a game-high nine assists, six rebounds, and two blocks in the Pacers’ win over the Knicks. Haliburton went 6-12 from the field, making three of his eight 3-point attempts. He was charged with just one turnover and no personal fouls in 32 minutes of court time.
Milestones
Brunson has produced seven 30-point, 5-assist games this postseason. No other player in Knicks history has recorded seven such games in their entire playoff career.
Brunson has recorded 404 points and 88 assists in 12 games this postseason. Only two other players in NBA history have produced at least 400 points and 80 assists through their first 12 games of a playoff run: Michael Jordan (1988 and 1989) and LeBron James (2009).
The Pacers’ T.J. McConnell came off the bench to score 15 points in just 16 minutes played. It’s the fourth time he’s scored at least 15 points in 23 or fewer minutes played this postseason. The last player to record four such games in a single postseason was Bonzi Wells in 2000.
Streaking
Brunson has scored at least 15 points in each of his last 23 playoff games, the longest such streak in Knicks history. He’s averaging 30.9 PPG and 6.5 APG over that span.
Brunson has recorded at least 15 points and five assists in 12 straight playoff games, the longest such streak in franchise history by five games.
The Indiana Pacers have won six consecutive home playoff games, matching the second-longest such streak in franchise history in a single postseason. They set the record of eight straight home wins in the 1998 NBA Playoffs.
Miscellany
Brunson was the night’s top point producer with 31. He was followed by Siakam (25); the Knicks’ Miles McBride (20) and Donte DiVincenzo (17); and the Pacers’ Myles Turner (17).
There was a three-way tie for the top board man last night, as the Knicks’ Precious Achiuwa and Josh Hart and the Pacers’ Turner snagged eight rebounds apiece. Siakam and the Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein were next with seven rebounds each.
Haliburton was the leading playmaker, handing out nine assists last night. Hartenstein and the Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard recorded six dimes apiece, while Brunson and Siakam each delivered five assists.