It\u2019s been 30 years since these two franchises started a rivalry that saw the Knicks and Pacers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
meet in the playoffs 6 times in a span of 8 seasons. Now, that feud has been rebooted as they<\/p>\n\n\n\n
meet in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Indiana is looking to reach the conference final<\/p>\n\n\n\n
for the first time in a decade while New York chases a final four spot for the first time in nearly a<\/p>\n\n\n\n
quarter of a century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Point Guard Battle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This series features two of the best in this position as Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton face<\/p>\n\n\n\n off in this showdown. Brunson will likely be in the top-five in voting for league MVP while<\/p>\n\n\n\n Haliburton led the NBA in assists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brunson leads the playoffs in scoring averaging over 35 points a game and he became the first<\/p>\n\n\n\n player since Michael Jordan in 1993 to score at least 37 points in four consecutive playoff<\/p>\n\n\n\n games He also was dominant against Indiana this season averaging almost 36PPG, shooting<\/p>\n\n\n\n 49% and attempting 10 free throws per game. Haliburton has been the driving force for the<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pacers, who led the NBA in scoring averaging 123 points her game. He was the leading scorer<\/p>\n\n\n\n for his team against New York averaging 20 PPG and dishing 13 assists per.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The player who wins this duel likely carries his team into the next round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Former Raptors Influence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Knicks: OG Anunoby<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019s been an all-around defender and since the trade from Toronto, the Knicks were 20-3 with<\/p>\n\n\n\n him in the lineup. He\u2019ll be counted on heavily to defend the Pacers big men, including former<\/p>\n\n\n\n teammate, Pascal Siakam. While he averages 15 PPG, he\u2019s been hard to defend against<\/p>\n\n\n\n posting almost 7 boards, 1 steal and 1.3 blocks per game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pacers: Pascal Siakim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019s leading the Pacers in scoring, and the big man is doing it all. Pascal Siakim has averaged<\/p>\n\n\n\n 22.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and his trade from the Raptors has paid off especially in<\/p>\n\n\n\n the first round vs the Bucks. Siakim matches up well against the Knicks and will be a menace to<\/p>\n\n\n\n guard in the paint. If he can slow down New York\u2019s big men inside, the Pacers should be in the<\/p>\n\n\n\n mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Knicks are the favorites here and likely will try to slow down the pace, the style Inidiana isn\u2019t<\/p>\n\n\n\n used to. And if you want to include big game experience, the Pacers did play in the finals of the<\/p>\n\n\n\n In-Season tournament, a loss to the Lakers. But this stage is larger and more on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SERIES ODDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Indiana Pacers +220<\/p>\n\n\n\n New York Knicks -260<\/p>\n\n\n\n SEASON SERIES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The teams met three times this season, with Pacers winning twice including once at MSG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dec. 30, 2023 New York 126 Indiana 140<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Feb. 1, 2024 Indiana 105 New York 109<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Feb. 10, 2024 Indiana 125 <\/strong>New York 111<\/p>\n\n\n\n SERIES SCHEDULE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Game 1: Pacers @ Knicks, Monday, May 6,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Game 2: Pacers @ Knicks, Wednesday, May 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n Game 3: Knicks @ Pacers, Friday, May 10<\/p>\n\n\n\n Game 4: Knicks @ Pacers, Sunday, May 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Game 5: Pacers @ Knicks, Date TBD<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Game 6: Knicks @ Pacers, Date TBD<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Game 7: Pacers @ Knicks, Date TBD<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s been 30 years since these two franchises started a rivalry that saw the Knicks and Pacers meet in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":24926,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[134],"tags":[162],"class_list":["post-24925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","tag-nba"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t