Jalen Brunson has carried the Knicks throughout the postseason, but in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, he finally met his match. The Indiana Pacers are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, and a big part of that was Andrew Nembhard’s relentless defense on the Knicks star.
Nembhard, tasked with guarding Brunson, took the assignment personally. “We just want to make him uncomfortable, wear him down, do whatever we can to stop him,” Nembhard said postgame. “He’s been dominating this series, so it’s not going to be irritating, but good.” And it worked—Brunson had 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting, committing five turnovers in the process.
Nembhard’s defense wasn’t just showing up on the stat sheet—it was clearly getting into Jalen Brunson’s head. In the fourth quarter, after picking Brunson’s pocket and converting it into a layup, the tension boiled over. Brunson, frustrated, tried to bump Nembhard with his forehead—an attempt to rattle the Pacers guard and regain some mental edge. But it didn’t work. Nembhard stayed locked in, unfazed, and kept doing what he’d done all night: make life miserable for New York’s star.
Indiana’s collective effort led to a 125-108 victory, behind Pascal Siakam’s 31-point night and Tyrese Haliburton’s double-double with 21 points and 13 assists. Nembhard didn’t just lock down Brunson—he contributed 14 points, eight assists, and six steals.
The Knicks had no answer defensively, and their offense couldn’t keep pace with Indiana’s shooting barrage. Now, the Pacers will prepare to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals, while the Knicks are left wondering what more Brunson could’ve done with a bit more help.
This is a developing story.
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