Where to watch Knicks vs. Pacers: TV channel, NBA playoffs live stream, Game 5 prediction, odds, time Sam Quinn For the Pacers and their leading scorer, Tyrese Haliburton, this is an offensive juggernaut with production and flair that rivals the ‘Showtime’ Lakers, who owned the league in the 1980s.
The ‘Showtime’ Lakers are the (purple and) gold standard for offensive success.
No other team has that many playoff games with those numbers in their franchise history.
By some measures, this Pacers offense surpasses not only the ‘Showtime’ Lakers but any other team.
‘Showtime’ Lakers vs. Pacers: Playoff numbers 1980-88 Lakers2024-25 Pacers PPG 114.7 116.0 Off rating 113.7 119.6 FG pct 51.6% 50.4% APG 29.8 29.3 Plus, the cherry on top here is the trigger man for each offense.
During the NBA playoffs, the Indiana Pacers have been the team to watch. With incredible game wins, fastbreak clinics, scoring bursts, and impossible comebacks, they have wowed us. They are now only one victory away from making it to the NBA Finals.
They did it as a no. 4 seed after their 2024 run as a sixth seed in the conference finals. Yet, we’ve seen enough of this group to realize that this isn’t just another adorable “Cinderella” story. Even with the Thunder looming, they are serious contenders for the championship. On Thursday, Indiana can defeat the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Where to watch the Knicks vs. Pacers: NBA playoff live stream, TV channel, odds, time, and prediction for Game 5.
Sam Quinn.
This offensive powerhouse, with production and flair, rivals the ‘Showtime’ Lakers, who dominated the league in the 1980s, according to the Pacers and their top scorer, Tyrese Haliburton. Furthermore, it’s not hyperbole.
When it comes to offensive success, the “Showtime” Lakers are the (purple and) gold standard. Over the course of nine seasons, from 1979–80 to 1987–88, they won five NBA titles and five times led the league in offensive rating.
The Pacers are in their stratosphere, which is hard to believe, but the numbers don’t lie. In the past two postseason runs, Indiana has participated in 31 games. This information is sufficient to confirm that the numbers they consistently post are not an anomaly.
score for the postseason.
In the last two postseasons, the Pacers have averaged 116 points per game, which is the highest by any team in a two-game stretch (at least 20 games) since the Lakers in 1986–87, who scored 118 points per game.
Additionally, after putting us on notice during the previous postseason, Indiana has stepped up in 2025. This postseason, the Pacers are averaging 118 points 5. The 2017 Warriors and the 1987 Lakers were the last two teams to reach that total in a single postseason (at least 10 games).
The Pacers, as their name suggests, have been scoring points quickly, so you had better not blink. In Game 4 of the previous round, they scored 80 points in the first half against the Cavaliers. They trailed by nine points in the last minute of Game 1 against the Knicks, but Aaron Nesmith made six consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter to pull off a historic comeback.
Despite trailing by at least seven points in the last minute of the fourth quarter or overtime, the Pacers have won three postseason games. Since play-by-play records were first maintained in 1998, every other team has won one game in those locations.
It is this historic offense that allowed any team to win not once, not twice, but three times despite overwhelming odds.
shooting that is historic.
In the last two postseasons (at least 20 games), the Pacers have shot 50 points per four from the field, which is the highest percentage of any team since the 1987–88 Lakers (50 points per nine).
That is crazier. The Pacers have accomplished this in an era where 3-pointers make up 38% of their shot attempts, which is the first time in 37 years that a team has made half of its shots during two playoff runs. In the 1987–88 season, the Lakers made just under 8% of their shots from beyond the arc.
Additionally, in both of the previous postseasons, the Pacers have shot more than 50% from the field. Since the Bulls in 1991, no team had previously made half of its shots in a playoff run (at least 10 games).
Indiana has a difficult time matching the Lakers’ six-game winning streak in the postseason from 1982 to 1987, when they made 50 percent of their shots.
Passing and pace are what drive it.
Throughout the past two postseasons, the Pacers have averaged 29 points and 3 assists per game, which is the most any team has done in a minimum of 20 games. You got it, dot. the 1987–88 season’s “Showtime” Lakers.
In the last two postseasons, Indiana has recorded 16 games with 30 or more assists, demonstrating their passing prowess. In that time frame, no other team has more than five. Over 30 assists and fewer than 10 turnovers have been recorded in seven of their games. No other team in their franchise history has played that many playoff games.
This Pacers offense outperforms not just the “Showtime” Lakers but all other teams by certain metrics. In the two postseasons since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976–77, they have the highest offensive rating (119.6) of any team (minimum 20 games).
The last two postseasons were Pacers.
Best in Two Postseasons Since.
PPG.
116point.
The Lakers (118 points) in 1986–87.
A rating of off.
Point 119.
Never.
The FG PCT.
Fifty-four percent.
Lakers, 1987–88 (50–9%).
APG.
29 points.
Lakers, 1986-87 (30.1).
The Pacers aren’t the “Showtime” Lakers, but they have enough offensive firepower to win a championship, something Los Angeles accomplished five times in the 1980s.
“Showtime” Lakers vs. Pacers: Points for the playoffs.
Lakers 1980–88 Pacers 2024–25.
PG.
114 points 7.
116point.
No rating.
113 points 7.
119point 6.
FG PPT.
51.6%.
50:4 percent.
APG.
29 points (8).
Point 29.
The trigger man for each offense is the icing on the cake. Haliburton is playing much like Magic Johnson in the modern era. That is supported by the numbers, clutch play, showmanship, and dramatic flair.
Magic versus. Hali: His first 29 postseason games.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Magic Johnson.
PPG.
17.
19 Point 0.
APG.
Nine Point Three.
9 0.
The FG PCT.
49%.
47%.
Following a historic season dominated by a tenacious defense, many people believe the Thunder will win. Nevertheless, the Pacers are demonstrating that they are competitive, and their offense vs. It would be an incredible matchup to watch the Thunder defense.
