Eastern Conference Finals preview: Knicks, Pacers rekindle storied rivalry

When the NBA playoffs began a month ago, it's unlikely anyone expected a final four that included a third, fourth and seventh seed.

But in an era that boasts about parity, it's a fitting quartet to watch as we inch closer to crowning a record seventh different champion since 2019.

Throughout a post-season filled with 60-win juggernauts and plenty of proven superstars, we've seen factors like depth and attrition reign supreme.

Out East, for instance, the conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers were ousted in five games, while the defending champion Boston Celtics were bounced by a team that hasn't gone beyond the conference semis in a quarter century.

So in some ways, the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are the basketball embodiment of Sean Evans and Paul Rudd's memefied exchange:

"Look at us, who would've thought?" ... "Not me."

Not to be overlooked, however, as both teams have shown they're ready to hang amongst the NBA's elite. Indiana through contributors up and down its roster, and New York thanks to some savvy swings paying dividends.

And whether any of us truly believe they belong, the pair have made it to the third round all the same. Ready to pen the latest chapter in one of the long-storied playoff rivalries in league history.

With that being said, here's what you need to know for the fourth edition of Knicks vs. Pacers at Wrestlemani — err, in the Eastern Conference Finals.

(3) New York Knicks vs. (4) Indiana Pacers

Season series: Knicks lead 2-1

Series schedule (all times in ET):
Game 1: Wednesday, May 21 at 8 p.m.
Game 2: Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, May 25 at 8 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, May 27 at 8 p.m.
*Game 5: Thursday, May 29 at 8 p.m.
*Game 6: Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m.
*Game 7: Monday, June 2 at 8 p.m.
_{* if necessary}

Pulse on Knicks

It's been a long journey (25 years to be exact) since we saw that iconic orange-and-blue uniform in an Eastern Conference Finals.

And for a bit of serendipity, that last time it happened in 2000, it was also against Indiana. Fast forward to 2025, and New York's hope is that this year's Knicks can not only rewrite history and avenge Patrick Ewing's team that lost to Reggie Miller's way back when, but also get some payback for last year's second-round matchup that saw Indiana move on after seven games.

For what it's worth, these Knicks are well equipped to do so given their path to the East Finals has been all about resilience.

It took New York six very physical games to eliminate the Detroit Pistons before upsetting the defending champs in the second round thanks to a plethora of comeback efforts. The Knicks overcame a pair of 20-point deficits in Games 1 and 2 to steal both in Boston and trailed by at least 14 points in five of their six second-round contests.

Heroics that were spearheaded by Gotham's finest in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Batman and Robin duo accounted for over 50 points per game during the regular season, a trend that's only continued in the playoffs. Throughout 12 post-season games, Brunson and Towns have combined to score over 45 per cent of the Knicks' 106.8 average points per contest.

Pulse on Pacers

Indiana's path to a second-consecutive Conference Finals appearance wasn't quite as arduous as New York's journey.

The Pacers ran right past an aged Milwaukee Bucks in five games and then did the same thing to a less-than-100 per cent Cavaliers in the second round. Even when faced with a challenge, like a 19-point road deficit in Game 5, Indiana showed plenty of poise as it rallied to eliminate Cleveland.

And while the Knicks took the regular-season series, two of those matchups came before the calendar flipped to 2025 when the Pacers finished their campaign 34-14 (fourth-best in the NBA).

Rick Carlisle's squad is also the deepest of the four remaining teams, the lone conference finalist with 10 players averaging 10-plus minutes and with six different double-digit scorers.

Burning questions

Knicks: Can they consistently slow down the Pacers?

It's no secret that Indiana's offence has been exceptional throughout the post-season. The Pacers' 117.7 points per game ranked second-most overall and highest amongst conference finalists as they move the ball a ton (NBA-leading 68.9 assist percentage) and try to run every chance they get (third in pace).

And while daunting as that may seem, the Knicks have been finding themselves defensively these playoffs. New York has the fifth-best defensive rating this post-season and held Boston to just 105.2 points per game during the East semis. A mark that was the second-lowest in round two and 8.9 points per 100 possessions fewer than the defending champs averaged in the regular season.

After getting waxed for 127 points in Game 5, the Knicks appeared to learn from their struggles against Boston's movement-focused style that was adopted without Jayson Tatum, holding the Celtics to just 81 points on 36 per cent shooting from the field.

And as far as matchups go, New York will have plenty of options defensively to throw at either Tyrese Haliburton or Pascal Siakam, starting with the ex-Raptors' former teammate in OG Anunoby, along with Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart.

But that still leaves the combo of Brunson and Towns to be picked apart if they can't stay on the same page. While the Knicks looked impressive on that end of the floor for stretches throughout the playoffs, even momentary lapses, like the ones that led to them trailing the Celtics so often, will be more than enough for the Pacers to take advantage of.

Pacers: Will their second unit be the difference?

While there are similarities between the storied rivals, the one thing that certainly differs is how much each team relies on its bench.

The Pacers' second unit ranks fourth in playoff scoring and was up to second throughout the conference semis. Players like Montreal's Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell have all driven successful stints during Indiana's run to the East Finals. The Knicks' reserves, meanwhile, ranked last in both minutes and points during the second round and have been among the least impactful throughout the post-season.

And we've seen plenty of times before how Tom Thibodeau's uber-reliance on a shortened lineup has gassed out his players. Will the Knicks' seven-man rotation be able to keep up for a full series of sprinting with a 10-deep Pacers? And should one of New York's top seven go down, can iced-out players step in and contribute right away? We saw both those factors come into play last season when Indiana advanced to the Conference Finals over New York. Will history repeat itself?

Either way, these playoffs, maybe more than ever, have demonstrated how important depth can be in winning the war of attrition. And there's no doubt the Pacers are far more equipped for that battle heading into Round 3.

X-Factors

Knicks: Mitchell Robinson

Rebounding is not a sexy part of basketball, but it is an important one. And Robinson projects to be a force on the glass against a Pacers team that doesn't prioritize second-chance opportunities.

The finally-healthy seven-footer is averaging 3.8 offensive rebounds per game in the playoffs, tied for fourth most in the NBA. He's led the Knicks to the league's fifth-best offensive rebound rate and helped them generate the fourth-most putbacks and sixth-most per miss in the playoffs (according to Cleaning the Glass).

All of which should be plenty effective against an Indiana team that is middle of the pack on the defensive glass without a single player averaging six-plus defensive boards.

Robinson's work grabbing rebounds could also be an effective counter to the Pacers' propensity to run off misses, while it'll also create plenty of opportunities for the Knicks (they've generated the second-most possessions in the playoffs).

Beyond rebounding, Robinson has been a great anchor defensively for New York at times. He's been roaming around helping the team's many perimeter stoppers and has made plenty of talented scorers think twice about going up against him at the rim.

His impact on the glass and as a defender has not only earned the praise of his teammates but has also made him one of the most impactful players throughout the post-season. Robinson's 18.1 net rating during the East semis was the fifth highest in the NBA (min. four games played).

Pacers: Andrew Nembhard

The Aurora, Ont., native has been a quintessential playoff riser throughout his time in the NBA, and 2025 has been no exception

Nembhard's averages have ticked up across the board throughout this post-season, averaging 14.6 points (plus-4.6), 6.0 assists (plus-1.0) and 1.4 steals (plus-0.2). Most notably, his shooting splits have taken a considerable rise as he's boasting a 62.9 per cent true shooting clip (up from 54.5 per cent), much of that thanks to him converting 50 per cent on threes during the playoffs as opposed to a career-low 29.1 per cent mark during the regular-season.

Which makes it feel like even less of a coincidence that Indiana's only two losses through the first two rounds coincided with two of his three lowest scoring games.

All while he's been heavily relied upon as a primary floor general at times, as Haliburton has been burdened with extra attention by opposing defences. Nembhard's 32.8 minutes per game are less than two fewer than Haliburton and the second-most on the Pacers throughout the playoffs. He's been plenty productive as a facilitator as well, with his 1.23 points per 100 possessions as a pick-and-roll ball handler ranked seventh in the NBA during the post-season (min. 10 possessions).

Not to mention that he'll likely get the first crack at guarding Brunson, a matchup that'll offer the 25-year-old a chance at redemption. The Knicks PG torched the Pacers in last year's East semis, with Nembhard as his primary defender, to the tune of 29.7 points per game.