Knicks failed to clean up their act and it burned them in Game 6

INDIANAPOLIS — Turnovers were a major issue for the Knicks throughout the Eastern Conference finals, and their last game of the series — and their season — certainly was no different. The Knicks coughed up the ball a series-high 18 times and they were outscored by a whopping 34-13 margin off turnovers in falling for the fourth and final time to the Pacers, 125-108, in Game 6 on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were the primary culprits with five giveaways apiece, followed by two each by Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Pacers wing Andrew Nembhard, who was switched by Indiana coach Rick Carlisle to the primary defender against Brunson with Aaron Nesmith slowed by an ankle issue, recorded six steals. Tyrese Haliburton added three in the series clincher as the Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.Haliburton, who arrived to the game in all black to supposedly signify that he would be attending a funeral for the Knicks, also had 21 points and 13 assists for the Pacers, who will face the Thunder in the Finals with both teams looking for a first NBA title.

It marked the fifth time in the six games that Haliburton was credited with two or more steals. The Knicks committed 10 turnovers in Saturday’s first half, and they finished with at least 15 in five of the six games, with the lone exception their 13 in a Game 2 defeat.Even in the two games the Knicks emerged victorious, they were charged with 15 in Game 3 and Game 5. In the first five games, the Knicks lost the ball 75 times and conceded 106 points, while scoring only 48 points off Indiana giveaways. Josh Hart committed five turnovers in the Knicks’ home loss in Game 4, and said afterward that he was “embarrassed by his play.” Down by 15 points (78-63) with 6:44 to go in Saturday’s third quarter, the Knicks embarked on an 8-0 run to close within seven. But Nesmith scored in transition following Pascal Siakam’s steal o...