The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers will begin the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
Knicks vs Pacers Game 1 Preview
The Knicks and Pacers faced the postseason more than a year later after advancing to the conference championship with a Game 7 victory in New York.
That year, this task seems rather affordable, although not for Indiana, who was eventually swept by the final champion Boston Celtics for a spot in the NBA Finals.
The Pacers were about to reach the final for the first time since 2000, upsetting the Cleveland Cavaliers with 64 wins to win another shot in Eastern Conference glory after beating the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
That season, 25 years ago, was also the Knicks and Pacers in the conference finals, closing off the historic rivalry where the pair met six times from 1993 until the turn of the century.
The bitter feud was renewed in 2013 when the Pacers defeated the Knicks in the semi-finals in six games, just as New York was about to win Indiana for the first time since the 1999 conference final.
The Knicks end the Boston Celtics in six games after seeing the Detroit Pistons in the first round and then round out their home court advantage, the ball is at New York’s court.
Despite a slow start to the season with a 16-18 record on New Year’s Day, the Pacers put it on Notch, posting a 42-16 record that includes postseason and talisman Tyrees Halliburton, averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.3 assists.
Indiana boasts a well-balanced roster of Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nenbird, Miles Turner and Aaron Nesmith.
Meanwhile, the Knicks struggled somewhat with every poststar break with a 15-13 record in that period, winning only 15 of 38 games with a win record.
They were the first three seeds to lose all regular season games against the top two teams at the conference since the current playoff format was entered in the 1980s.
Jalen Brunson continues to lead his team to success alongside Karl Anthony-Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart.
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Knicks vs Pacers Game 1 Injury Report
New York Knicks Injury
There are no injuries to report
Indiana Pacers injuries
f. Isaiah Jackson (Achilles; Out)
What is the TV channel for Knicks vs. Pacer Game 1?
Game 1 of Knicks vs Pacers will air nationwide on TNT.