Indiana Fever, Purdue Boilermakers Prove Pacers' Rick Carlisle Right originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Between Bobby Knight, Larry Bird, Hoosiers, and high school gyms across the state, Indiana is the basketball capital of America, and the Indiana Pacers, after 25 years, finally punched their ticket to the NBA Finals.

At BetMGM, the Pacers have +500 odds to come out on top over the Oklahoma City Thunder, making them the biggest underdogs in the NBA Finals since the Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors in 2018 as +688 underdogs, according to SportsOddsHistory.

Here are the winners and losers from the closeout game of the Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks:

Jalen Rose Congratulates Indiana Pacers After Game 6 Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 on Saturday night with a 125-108 win over the New York Knicks.

The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks on Saturday to clinch a spot in the NBA Finals, and for his efforts in the series, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award.

Pacers forward Jarace Walker was on crutches with a right ankle injury following Indiana’s 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night and coach Rick Carlisle said he was uncertain of Walker’s availability for the NBA Finals.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was in Indiana the last time the team made the NBA Finals in 2000 -- but as an assistant coach.