The Indiana Pacers roared to a 116-103 win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 to force a Game 7 on Sunday.
For the Knicks — or perhaps many Knicks fans — it's somewhat uncharted territory.
The Knicks haven't played a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden since 1995 — against the Pacers. It came in the semifinals, just like this current series.
The Knicks lost that game in 1995, in painful fashion. Trailing by two with five seconds remaining in the game, Patrick Ewing rumbled down the middle of the lane and missed a finger roll that would have tied the game. The Pacers grabbed the rebound as time expired and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks have, however, played two Game 7s since then — both against the Heat. They lost to the Heat in seven games, with Game 7 coming in Miami, in the semifinals in 1997. They beat the Heat in seven games, with Game 7 in Miami, in 2000.
Of course, the players are totally different, but sometimes history weighs on playoff series.
The Knicks are bruised and battered, with Josh Hart being the latest Knicks player to face an injury.
The Knicks will need better bounces than Ewing got in 1995 to advance to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.
