But there’s also history from a year ago, when the Pacers beat the Knicks in the second round in seven games.
New York travels to Indianapolis for Game 1 of the series on Wednesday, May 21, at 8 p.m. Eastern.
If the Pacers are to win this series, Turner will have to hold serve with Towns.
In three games against the Knicks this year, Mathurin averaged 25.3 points per game, which led all Pacers players.
Kurt Helin (NBC Sports lead NBA writer): Knicks in 7 This series is a coin flip.
Since Patrick Ewing dominated games (but missed a clutch finger roll) and Spike Lee was taunted by Reggie Miller, this Eastern Conference Finals has a rich history. However, there is also history from a year ago, when the Pacers defeated the Knicks in seven games in the second round. Will it happen again?
The Knicks vs., when? the Celtics start?
On Wednesday, May 21, at 8 p.m., New York will travel to Indianapolis for the first game of the series. M. Eastern. The rest of the series airs nearly every other day.
New York versus… Schedule for the 2025 Boston Playoffs.
All times are in Eastern time (* = if needed).
Game 1: Pacers vs. Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m. Knicks. m. TNT).
Second game: Pacers vs. Knicks; 23 May, Friday, 8 p.m. A. TNT.
Third Game: Knicks vs. Pacers; May 25th, Sunday, 8 p.m. M. TNT).
Game 4: Knicks against… Pacers; May 27th, Tuesday, 8 p.m. A. (TNT).
Pacers vs. May 29, Thursday, Knicks, 8 p.m. m. (TNT)*.
Game 6: Knicks versus. Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. Pacers. A. , TNT)*.
Game 7: Pacers versus. Knicks; June 2, Monday, at 8 p.m. m. (TNT)*.
players to observe.
Myles Turner.
Turner has shot 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line, and he has averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, and 1 three-pointer per game so far in the postseason. But the Pacers center will face Karl-Anthony Towns more challengingly than either Jarrett Allen (Cleveland) or Brook Lopez (Milwaukee) did in the first two rounds. On the one hand, since 2025, Indiana has been among the NBA’s top teams. Nevertheless, in the three meetings between the teams—two of which took place in 2024—they were unable to respond to Towns. In the one and only 2025 encounter, Towns shot 14 of 23 from the field and finished with 40 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three three-pointers. Turner will need to hold serve with Towns if the Pacers are to win this series.
—Rotoworld basketball analyst Rapheelle Johnson.
Mathurin, Benedict.
Depth should prove to be a significant consideration in a game between two teams with loaded starting lineups. Indiana might win the game because of Bennedict Mathurin’s quick offense, which he excelled at against New York in the regular season. This season, Mathurin led all Pacers players in scoring 25 points per game in three games against the Knicks. Indiana has shot a ridiculous (and probably unsustainable) 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range during the first two rounds of the playoffs. In addition to his strong games against Milwaukee and Cleveland, Mathurin also had some games in which he didn’t contribute much. His peak offensive performance will help Indiana overcome a formidable New York defense, which has the fifth-best defensive rating in the playoffs.
—Rotoworld basketball analyst Noah Rubin.
Things to keep an eye on in New York vs. Indiana.
1) Velocity.
Saying that the Pacers want to run and the Knicks want to slow down the game is oversimplified, but it’s not entirely true. In the regular season, Indiana led the league in offensive starts during transition, while New York finished in the bottom 10. Both teams have started roughly the same amount of offense on the break during the playoffs, particularly as opponents have prepared to slow the Pacers in transition.
Although forcing turnovers (or getting stops) and then getting out and running is actually the Knicks’ best offensive strategy, they must be selective in this series because Indianapolis will win if it’s a track meet.
However, pace is more than just running; Indiana uses their speed in the halfcourt to get shots. Although Haliburton breaks down defenses and finds the open man, Indiana cuts and moves the ball much more quickly than the Knicks, which will put New York’s defense to the test (the Pacers are a new kind of test, and both the Celtics and Pistons offenses are more station-to-station). New York can pound the ball a lot, but their offense is more centered on Brunson (and occasionally Towns). It’s a huge advantage for the Pacers if they can get clean looks and get the ball flying around the halfcourt.
2) Which squad is better at defending the paint?
Although both the Knicks and the Pacers finished in the bottom half of the league in that category, the Pacers were 26th and far worse than the Knicks, who both finished in the top 10 in the NBA for chasing teams off the 3-point line this season.
The team that is able to eliminate those simple glances inside during drives (or transitions) will have a significant edge.
Here’s where Mitchel Robinson is useful. He did not participate in any of the regular season games between these teams, but he has been New York’s playoff X-factor and will remain so throughout this series.
The battle in the paint includes rebounding. During the playoffs, the Robinson-led Knicks have been beasts on the glass, while Indiana has struggled. Keeping New York off the glass and obtaining simple putback buckets should be Indiana’s top priorities.
3) Which squad performs best under pressure?
This series could be decided by clutch plays and comebacks, which both teams have excelled at in these playoffs.
In both the first two games of the previous series, New York fell behind Boston by 20 points on the road, but they rallied to win. This postseason, Indiana needs to win three times with comebacks of at least 19 points.
Here’s what Jalen Brunson has done.
This is what Tyrese Haliburton has done.
There will be a number of games in this series that will be decided by the last second, and it will be amazing.
—NBC Sports’ chief NBA writer, Kurt Helin.
projections.
Pacers in six, according to Jay Croucher, lead betting analyst for NBC Sports.
Indiana’s net rating was +11.5 when Haliburton and Siakam shared the court, and it was the fifth-best in the NBA from January 1 to the end of the regular season. The Pacers could be an underappreciated powerhouse. New York’s offense is comparatively uncreative in comparison to Indiana’s speed and ball movement.
“Pacers in six,” says Drew Dinsick, an NBC sports betting analyst.
Pacers 4-2 (at 17 percent) is the most likely outcome based on my numbers, and my series price is dead even. I’m also betting on Pacers plus the points in Game 1. The Pacers’ Haliburton, who has a 99th percentile oEPM and barely beats Brunson, is the series’ best offensive player. Nembhard and Siakam, who have 95th and 91st percentile dEPM, respectively, are their two best defensive players. I also give Indiana the coaching advantage.
Pacers in seven, according to NBC Sports Betting Analyst Brad Thomas.
The Pacers don’t warrant any more skepticism. Both the Bucks and the Cavaliers succeeded. Their current catchphrase is “overrated.”. Although you can doubt them, this is an extremely talented team.
All season long, their incapacity to play defense was their biggest criticism. Nonetheless, they were among the NBA’s top defensive teams during the final month and a half of the season.
They have a floor general who can find his own shot and motivate others, making them a deadly offensive force.
It’s not a jab at the Knicks. After defeating the reigning NBA Champions, it feels overwhelming. There is too good a chance to miss the Pacers winning the East.
Kurt Helin, chief NBA writer for NBC Sports: Knicks in 7.
It’s a coin toss series. I was on the verge of selecting the Pacers in the sixth pick, and that is a real possibility because Indiana has more depth and versatility than New York, and coach Rick Carlisle is skilled at taking advantage of that. It is the Pacers’ defense, not Haliburton, that is underappreciated.
In this postseason, the Knicks’ size and slightly more physicality have usually prevailed. For the first time since Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca” hit the top of the charts, I believe it will happen here, with Towns and Robinson playing crucial roles in getting New York back to the NBA Finals.
