Here are the winners and losers from the closeout game of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks:

It was a return to Pacers basketball that overwhelmed the Knicks in Game 6 and set up a clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Pacers bounced back from their Game 5 defeat to complete a 4-2 series victory and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. The Oklahoma City Thunder represent their biggest challenge of the playoffs and rolled through the Western Conference bracket on the heels of their 68-win regular season.

Pascal Siakam was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP after scoring 30+ points in three of the four Pacers' wins.

The Indiana Pacers have punched their ticket to the NBA Finals after defeating the New York Knicks in six games, claiming the 2024-25 Eastern Conference title.

The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are meeting once again in the NBA playoffs, and this time, there is a Finals berth on the line. The Knicks kept their season alive Thursday night, winning Game 5 at Madison Square Garden with 32 points from Jalen Brunson and a strong defensive showing.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was in Indiana the last time the team made the NBA Finals in 2000 -- but as an assistant coach.

NBA playoffs began, the Indiana Pacers were given 50-to-1 odds to win the title. Ten teams had better chances. Most analysts didn’t even mention them in championship conversations.