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Stephenson, Pacers oust Knicks, advance to play Heat
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers had talked all series about making adjustments to gain an advantage with each passing game. The adjustment in Saturday's game 6 win against the Knicks was a radical one: let Lance Stephenson go crazy.
Stephenson scored a playoff career-high 25 points and hauled in 10 rebounds to help the pacers advance with a 106-99 victory.
"I couldn't wait for this game; I couldn't sleep," Stephenson said. "I just wanted to be aggressive, try to penetrate and dish or score. And just make smart plays."
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony had 39 points in the loss, but was limited to just four in the final quarter by the Pacers' top-ranked defense.
The aggressiveness of Stephenson and the rest of the Pacers -- driving to the rim, crashing boards and hustling for loose balls -- helped them to a 46-18 disparity in free throw attempts. New York was called for 34 personal fouls and Indiana just 16.
The Pacers held a twelve-point lead early in the third quarter, but a barrage of three's brought the Knicks back.
New York took the lead late in the third and, up 92-90, Anthony drove the baseline hard to the rim.
Pacers center Roy Hibbert rotated from the weak side, met Anthony at the rim and blocked his dunk attempt.
Then, tied a 92-all, Stephenson made another big play. He scored 16 points in the first half but just two in the third quarter. His quiet half got loud in a hurry.
Stephenson's open-court steal and three-point play with 3:54 left in the fourth gave the Pacers the lead,
which they maintained for the rest of the game.
"It's believable but unbelievable," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "The kid's got a lot of guts and great, great basketball instincts. ... There's been times throughout this year when he hasn't been assertive and we're not very good when he's not.
"When he's in attack mode, like he was tonight, we're really good."
The Knicks scored 34 points in their comeback third-quarter, but just 18 points on 6-for-18 shooting in the fourth.
"They gave us all we could handle," Vogel said. "It was an excellent, excellent ballgame and I'm just glad we prevailed."
The Pacers used their home court to its fullest advance. The entire crowd was decked out in yellow at a packed Bankers Life Fieldhouse, making the arena ambience notably bright. Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' home court, has a well-known dark ambience, similar to a theater.
The difference in background could have played a difference for the Pacers' 50.7-40.0 percent shooting advantage.
The win pushed Indiana past New York with a 4-2 series win and reserved a meeting with defending NBA champion Miami Heat.
"If you look at NBA history, every team that's on a championship journey takes steps," Vogel said, "Each year taking a step further than they were the year before. We were a first-round elimination team two years ago against the Bulls, made it to the second round last year and got knocked out by Miami.
"I'm proud of the year-long effort to take that next step, but we're not satisfied with where we're at. We feel like there is no ceiling on this team this year and we're looking forward to the next series."
Stephenson became a starter for the Pacers this year, but last season he had a memorable confrontation during the Heat series while he was a deep reserve.
"I'm ready for whatever team comes our way," Stephenson said. "I'm just happy to be a part of this team."
The Heat, with a home court advantage and 2013 NBA MVP LeBron James, will be heavily favored against the often under-appreciated Pacers.
The series starts Wednesday in Miami and Vogel said that no matter who the opponent -- no matter the recent history -- the team will be ready and fight for its goal: an NBA title.
"It's exciting, but this is not about getting back at Miami," Vogel said. "When you're in the final four you're competing for a championship and they're just the next team that's in the way."