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    Tuesday, December 9

    Former IU basketball star Thomas Bryant helps lift Indiana Pacers into NBA Finals

    Mike SchumannBy IU Basketball 42 Comments

    Ineffective early in the series, Thomas Bryant lost his role in the Pacers’ rotation in the Eastern Conference Finals.  He had just four points in the series going into Game 6 and didn’t play at all in Games 3 and 4.

    But when another opportunity arose, Bryant was more than up to the task.

    Now the former Hoosier star has a chance to win a second NBA Championship ring in three years.

    Bryant had lost minutes in the series to fellow backup center Tony Bradley, who suffered an injury in Game 5.  So when Pacers starting center Myles Turner picked up his fourth foul with 10:14 left in the third quarter, Bryant’s number was called.

    Just six seconds later, Bryant met his former IU basketball teammate OG Anunoby at the rim and blocked his good friend’s shot.  That was just the beginning.

    With the Pacers leading 69-61 with 8:10 left in the third, Bryant spotted up in the corner for his second three of the game.

    86 seconds later, Bryant snared a defensive rebound, ran the floor, and hit another three to give Indiana a 78-63 lead.  Before his run ended, Bryant would hit two free throws for an 8-point, three rebound quarter.

    Bryant finished the game with 11 points in 13 minutes.  He added three rebounds, the block, and made 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc.  His third quarter spark helped the Pacers pull away for the 125-108 series-clinching win.

    After the game on the national television broadcast, Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam acknowledged Bryant’s contributions, including how positive Bryant was on the bench in the games he didn’t play.

    “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.”

    It was the second straight series Bryant provided a major contribution in a game when the Pacers clinched.  He had nine points, three rebounds and a steal in Game 5 at Cleveland and drew the praise of head coach Rick Carlisle.

    Anunoby had a solid performance as well.  He scored 24 points and pulled down five rebounds.  Anunoby has become the very good two-way NBA player many thought he could be when he left IU along with Bryant following the 2016-17 season.

    Bryant and the Indiana Pacers will face Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.  That series starts on Thursday.

    For complete coverage of IU basketball, GO HERE.   

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