Scorching hot Pacers set playoff mark in Game 7 rout of Knicks - ESPN

NEW YORK — There was huge anticipation for Sunday to produce a historic Madison Square Garden game. It absolutely did, just not one anyone could've expected.

Improbably and unexpectedly in a road Game 7 situation, the Indiana Pacers had one of the greatest shooting halves in the 77-year history of the NBA. When the stunned New York Knicks tried to recover with a second-half push, the Pacers superstar and their super sub stepped in and delivered the final blows.

The result was a 130-109 Pacers victory, eliminating the Knicks by finishing off four victories in five games after falling behind 2-0 in the series. The Pacers will now head to Boston to open the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics on Tuesday.

The Pacers ended up shooting 67.1% for the game, the highest field goal percentage for a playoff game in NBA history. And that was after they cooled off in the second half.

Adding to the misery for the Knicks, but sadly befitting what befell them in the series, star Jalen Brunson suffered a broken left hand during the third quarter. When his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, returned to the bench after getting the news in the locker room, he could only hold his head in his hands.

It was already a tough day for Brunson, who was just 6-of-17 shooting for 17 points before exiting. Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who had played two tepid and unimpactful games in New York during the series, drilled four 3-pointers in the first quarter alone, injecting momentum into his team and inspiring unending confidence.

After each 3, Haliburton barked at anyone within his eyeline, be it fans, Knicks players (particularly Donte DiVincenzo) and even into the ether. With each make, the Pacers looked more relaxed and,