What Pacers fans should know about the Knicks heading into second round of NBA playoffs
The Indiana Pacers will meet the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2024 Eastern Conference playoffs. The Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, while the Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.
The Pacers and Knicks had many spirited playoff series in the 1990s, and they last met in the postseason in 2014, a Pacers six-game victory in the second round.
Here's what you might expect from the teams this year.
More: Get ready for the Pacers vs. Knicks series by reliving their epic playoff history
Pacers vs. Knicks in 2023-24 regular season
Dec. 30: Host Pacers win 140-126
Myles Turner has 28 points and 8 rebounds, Aaron Nesmith 25 points on 7-of-11 3-point shooting, and Tyrese Haliburton 22 points and 23 assists. New York's Donte DiVincenzo has 38 points on 7-of-11 3-point shooting.
Feb. 1: Host Knicks win 109-105
Jalen Brunson scores 40 points after being named to his first NBA All-Star team. He has 11 in the closing minutes as the Knicks rally from behind.
Feb. 10: Visiting Pacers win 125-111
Myles Turner has a perfect night from the field (9-of-9, 2-of-2 3s) for 23 points and 8 rebounds, and Tyrese Haliburton scores 22 as the Pacers withstand Brunson's 39 points.
Tyrese Haliburton vs. Jalen Brunson
The star guards have been compared to each other for a couple of seasons.
During the 2022-23 season, Knicks broadcaster Wally Szczerbiak called Haliburton a "wannabe All-Star" while pushing Brunson's bid to make the team. The coaches chose Haliburton over Brunson.
Both made the All-Star team in 2024.
Last summer, they played together on Team USA -- with Brunson starting and Haliburton coming off the bench -- which failed to earn a medal in the World Cup.
Haliburton has been named to Team USA for the Paris Olympics, though Brunson could be a candidate to get a roster spot if a previously named player opts out.
Haliburton had a triple-double (18 points, 16 assists, 10 rebounds) in Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks and averaged 16 points and 9.3 assists in the first round.
Brunson averaged 35.4 points and 9 assists against the Philadelphia 76ers. That includes a 47-point, 10-assist outburst in Game 4, and 40-point+ performances in Games 5 and 6.
Knicks have a Villanova connection
Brunson is one of three Knicks starters who played at Villanova. Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart are also Wildcats alums.
All three played for the 2015-16 national champion Wildcats, and Brunson and DiVincenzo played for the 2017-18 champs.
Two non-Wildcats join them in the starting lineup: Indiana's O.G. Anunoby and center Isaiah Hartenstein, who played in Europe before reaching the NBA in 2018.
Anunoby joined the Knicks midseason in a trade with the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers added Pascal Siakam in a trade with the Raptors.
Knicks stick with their starters
New York depends on its starting lineup more than any NBA team. Coach Tom Thibodeaux often uses two bench players: big man Mitchell Robinson and guard Miles McBride. Former Pacers 3-point marksman Bojan Bogdanovich was in the playing rotation early in the first round, but his time dwindled and he's now out due to injury.
The Pacers averaged 46.8 bench points per game in the regular season, the most in the league. The Knicks averaged 28.4, the least.
Bench gang: McConnell, Toppin help lift Pacers to first playoff series win since 2014
Knicks attack the boards
The Pacers hold an edge over the Knicks in most offensive statistics, but the New York is one of the league's best rebounding teams (5th in total rebounds, 1st in rebound percentage). Indiana is 28th in total rebounds.
Also, the Knicks commit the 6th fewest fouls while the Pacers commit the most.
Pacers vs. Knicks playoff schedule
Monday, May 6: at New York, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, May 8: at New York, 8 p.m., TNT
Friday, May 10: at Indiana, 7 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, May 12: at Indiana, 3:30 p.m., ABC
TBD, TBD: at New York*
TBD, TBD: at Indiana*
TBD, TBD: at New York*
*-if necessary
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers to play Knicks in second round of NBA playoffs
