The Indiana Pacers knocked off the New York Knicks, 125-108 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle trusted his bench, unlike Tom Thibodeau and that was the main x-factor in the Pacers winning the ECF.
Thomas Bryant scored 11 points – a career playoff-high off the bench in 13 minutes of action. Bryant also had three rebounds and a blocked shot to help capture the win.
“There’s a lot of times when you have to believe when nobody else even believes,” Bryant said in the locker room afterward. “Even sometimes you have to believe it when you don’t even believe it. You have to make yourself believe it and just stay the course.
"“There were times I never thought I’d see the court again.”"Thomas Bryant
A PAIR OF HUGE THOMAS BRYANT TRIPLES 🎯🎯
— NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025
Caitlin Clark showing her respect after Indy's 9-2 run in Game 6👀 pic.twitter.com/5RmHx4vicz
Bryant, an eight-year NBA veteran, played in 66 games splitting time between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers in 2024-25.
“You talk about a guy who has a great spirit and stays ready,” Carlisle said. “His 3s and his blocked shots and his rebounds were all pivotal stuff.
The former Indiana Hoosier is averaging 6.5 points, 3.8 rebounds per game, in 14.6 minutes per game, shooting 50.8% from the field and 85.9% from the free throw line in the 2024-25 season for the Indiana Pacers.
The Indiana Hoosiers alum was Third Team All-Big Ten as a sophomore before entering the NBA Draft, he was selected by the Indiana Hoosiers in the second round. Bryant averaged 12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in his two years at Indiana.
“One of the things that he did when he was sitting down, he was the best guy on the bench cheering for everyone,” Siakam said. He lost his minutes, and he kept cheering for everyone. That’s basketball. The basketball gods are going to repay you when you’re that type of teammate. He was so laser focused and helped us win the game tonight.”
I would love to see Thomas Bryant back next season
— Wes Trueblood (@TruebloodWesley) June 3, 2025
TB has played legit playoff minutes, including a great ECF Game 6
(I still can’t believe we got him for a second round pick swap) pic.twitter.com/D48Wd2qe7T
The NBA Finals begin at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at Oklahoma City. The game will be broadcast on ABC.