Pacers knock out Knicks

INDIANAPOLIS-NAMPA/AP The Indiana Pacers moved into the NBA Eastern Conference finals with a 106-99 final over the New York Knicks on Saturday, with Lance Stephenson scoring nine of his playoff career-high 23 points during a late 11-2 run that sealed a 4-2 series victory. The New York native also had 10 rebounds and the Pacers were spurred by the return of point guard George Hill two days after he was diagnosed with a concussion. Next up is a rematch with Miami, the team that eliminated Indiana last season. Game 1 will be on Wednesday at Miami. Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points and Iman Shumpert had 19 for New York. Indiana is 6-0 at home in the playoffs, but this one wasn't easy. Indiana trailed 92-90 with 5:43 left. The Pacers rallied after Roy Hibbert blocked Anthony's dunk attempt and Stephenson scored on a layup that started the decisive spurt. The big question coming into the game was whether Hill could return after missing Game 5. He did, and it certainly made a difference as the Pacers reverted to their brand of basketball. They limited New York to 40 % shooting, had a 43-36 rebounding advantage, committed 10 fewer turnovers than in Game 5 and again protected their home court. New York played better than it had in the first five games of the series, making 13 of 30 3-pointers and fought valiantly. Indiana gave the Knicks chances. The Pacers blew 10-point leads in the second and third quarters and after controlling most of the game suddenly found themselves playing catch-up in the fourth quarter when Chris Copeland made back-to-back 3-pointers to give New York an 89-86 lead with 9:01 to play. J.R. Smith's next 3 made it 92-90. That's when Hibbert changed the game as Anthony drove in for a 1-handed dunk attempt. Paul George grabbed the rebound and Stephenson tied the score with a layup at the other end. Stephenson followed that with a steal and coast-to-coast layup, made two more free throws, and after David West scored on a tip-in, Stephenson scored on another layup to make it 101-95. The Knicks never got another chance to tie the score or take the lead. George had 23 points and West finished with 17. Hill was just 2 of 10 from the field in his return but scored 12 points, had five rebounds and four assists.