The Athletic has live coverage of Knicks vs Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference finals.
Suddenly, somewhat improbably, the Pacers are staring at their best shot to win an NBA title.
Nine times in their 49-year NBA history have the Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.
The Pacers ranked 25th in the league in payroll last season and made it to the Eastern Conference finals.
“Our goal wasn’t to get back to the Eastern Conference finals,” he said flatly.
The Knicks vs. Pacers game 1 of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference finals will be broadcast live on The Athletic.
The two key players of the Indiana Pacers’ recent comeback met for a private moment on the court in Cleveland about 90 seconds after they had sent the top seed in the Eastern Conference home for the summer. Something needed to be reminded of Tyrese Haliburton by Pascal Siakam.
“Remember, we have more work to do. “”.
In addition to defeating the Cavaliers in five games, the Pacers had won three away games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, including a Game 5 in which they had fallen behind by as much as 19. It was intentional if the subsequent on-court celebration seemed subdued, particularly for a team that struggled to a 10-15 record to start the season. For the second consecutive year, Indiana was on its way to the conference finals. For Haliburton and his teammates, Siakam wanted them to understand that there was nothing to rejoice over.
The seasoned forward would later acknowledge, “I sometimes sound like I’m trying to kill the party.”. “Everyone is excited, and I’m just saying, ‘Dude, I want more.'”. “”.
He ought to. This group ought to. This spring, the door has opened for a franchise that has endured much hardship. Unbelievably, the Pacers are now facing their best chance to win an NBA championship. This time, they have the team to complete the task.
After defeating the Cavaliers, coach Rick Carlisle declared, “We’re talking about eight more wins for an NBA championship.”. “This year, the league is completely open. “.”.
Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Indiana, three of the NBA’s final four teams, are vying for their teams’ first championship. Since 1973, New York has not taken home a trophy. And unlike Jordan’s Bulls in 1998, Shaq and Kobe’s Lakers in 2000, or LeBron and Wade’s Heat in 2013 and 2014, there isn’t a rising or established dynasty in the Pacers’ path this time.
Too many times and for too long, this franchise has suffered. In their 49-year NBA history, the Pacers have made it to the Eastern Conference finals nine times. They have lost four Game 7s, to the Knicks in 1994, the Magic in 1995, the Bulls in 1998, and the Heat in 2013, and they have been eliminated one round short of the championship eight times.
Numerous heartbreaking events have been etched into the fan base’s memory over the years, including Paul George’s injury in the summer of 2014 and his subsequent trade request three years later; Larry Johnson’s questionable four-point play at Madison sq\. Garden in 1999; Tayshaun Prince’s unexpected and shocking attempt to block Reggie Miller in 2004 (followed by the terrible night at the Palace of Auburn Hills six months later that destroyed the Pacers’ deepest team).
It feels different this time. With an 8–10 record thus far, the Pacers are not only the most exciting team remaining in the playoffs, but they are also possibly the deepest. Without taking any short cuts, Indiana has developed a contender the hard way. Not a single elite free agent is declining a trip to the Circle City from Boston, Miami, or Los Angeles. In 37 years, the Pacers have not had a pick in the top five. In fact, Haliburton was in New York representing them at the NBA Draft Lottery just 24 months ago.
The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals last season and finished 25th in the league in terms of payroll. They returned this year with the 22nd-ranked payroll.
It felt like half of their first-round series against the Bucks was on NBA TV; they hardly ever get to watch a nationally televised game during the regular season. The fact that no one gets to watch Haliburton play may be the reason why his peers chose him as the league’s most overrated player.
Haliburton recently stated, “It’s fuel we use,” on “The Pat McAfee Show.”. Many of our guys have been underappreciated. “”.
Out of the five Pacers starters, four have been traded. Fifteen months after drafting him, Haliburton was shipped out of town by the Sacramento Kings. The G League was where Siakam started his career. In a recent article in the Players’ Tribune, center Myles Turner, the only starter who hasn’t been dealt, made a joke about having “been on the trade block for like six years.”. “”.
The Pacers are here because of two of the NBA’s most astute trades in recent memory: the acquisition of Siakam from the Toronto Raptors at last year’s deadline and Haliburton in 2022 by team president Kevin Pritchard, who spent a portion of his childhood watching games from the cheap seats at Market sq\. Arena. Those moves were a game-changer for a team that felt lost; weeks prior to the Haliburton trade, the Pacers’ starting five against the Golden State Warriors included Torrey Craig, Chris Duarte, Justin Holiday, Goga Bitadze, and Keifer Sykes.
But the players Pritchard has surrounded his two stars with are the true geniuses. Only Haliburton scored more than 30 points in the Pacers’ ten playoff games thus far, and that was in last week’s Game 5 shutout in Cleveland, demonstrating how deep this team is. The two-time All-Star declared, “We’re different from every team in the NBA.”. “We use various strategies to defeat teams. “”.
Role players like Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, who together have a far greater impact on the court than the box score, are the reason they are here. They resemble guard versions of the Davis boys, forwards Dale and Antonio, from the teams of the 1990s. Nesmith helped set up Haliburton’s game-winning charge on the Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell late in Game 2. And with 67 seconds remaining in Game 5, Mitchell had reduced the lead to three points, and it was Nembhard who made a pivotal 3-pointer.
Obi Toppin, Thomas Bryant, Jarace Walker, and Bennedict Mathurin have all had postseason moments, and they are here because of a second wave that never lets up. And then there’s T. J. . McConnell. In his recent piece, Turner stated, “I’d hate that dude if he were on the other team.”.
Turner had been on the verge of being shipped out of town for years, but Carlisle was the main reason he stayed. The two had dinner together in Dallas in June 2021, the month Carlisle was hired. Turner wrote that he had hit his career low point, burdened by years of defeat, injuries, and the uncertainty that had hung over him for a long time. But Carlisle persuaded Turner to change his mind over steaks. The Pacers needed him, he persuaded him.
Turner wrote, “He made no promises to me and wasn’t trying to sell me anything.”. However, he simply said, “I see your worth.”. Please join this team. I believe there is potential here. “.”.
Carlisle has advanced the Pacers from lottery team to championship contender in just four seasons. Players, especially Haliburton, who has developed into one of the game’s top distributors, have praised their coach for his ability to modify his plan to fit their skills. One basic idea is said to be at the heart of everything: outrun everyone.
The Pacers made the decision to change their image prior to the previous season. They intended to be the league’s fastest team, the best-conditioned team, and the team that shared the ball the best.
It was quickly adopted by the other NBA teams. According to Turner, teams would “legitimately plan their stars’ rest schedule regarding ensuring they would sit out against us.”. Guys would be chatting with us before the game, saying things like, “No, I’m not going to run with you guys tonight,” while they were sitting out. f— that. “”.
It’s how they defeated the Cavaliers and Bucks in five games each. They were worn out by the Pacers flat.
The franchise and the offense are in Haliburton’s hands. And perhaps the city someday. Something about a lanky, underappreciated guard with a clutch gene and a wonky shooting form appeals to Hoosiers. Miller’s inclusion on the call for these Eastern Conference finals, where his former team will face the one he used to torment, is only fitting.
In response to Siakam’s sobering remarks on the Cleveland court, Haliburton has kept his remarks brief.
He stated bluntly, “Returning to the Eastern Conference finals wasn’t our goal.”. It’s to take home a title. “”.
This is how Siakam stated it: “We are greedy. “.”.
Alright. Act avaricious. One has never felt more connected to this team, and complacency won’t win a championship.
Tyrese Haliburton is a playmaker who is unlike anyone else. His Indiana Pacers are also as a result.
(Photos: Jason Miller, Dylan Buell / Getty Image; illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic).
