Sometimes sports find a way to script themselves. The Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers feels less like a new chapter and more like a sequel two decades in the making.
The last time the Knicks played in the Eastern Conference Finals was in 2000. Their opponent? The Indiana Pacers. That series ended with the Pacers defeating the Knicks 4-2 and heading to their first and only NBA Finals appearance. Ironically, just one year prior in 1999, it was the Knicks who bested the Pacers in the same round, only to fall short in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Now, the rivalry is reignited. The Knicks have home court advantage in the seven game series. Game 1 is set for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
2024 Season Series
The Knicks and Pacers met three times during the regular season, and each matchup delivered offensively:
- In New York (October): Knicks dominated with a 123-98 blowout win.
- In Indiana (November): Pacers won a shootout, 132-121.
- In Indiana (February): Knicks bounced back with a 128-115 win.
All three meetings were high scoring affairs with the two in Indiana averging nearly 250 points per game.
The Regular Season Was One Thing …
During the regular season, Indiana allowed 115.1 points per game, while the Knicks gave up a more modest 111.7 PPG. On offense the Knicks averaged 115.8 PPG compared to the Pacers putting up 117.4 PPG.
But this is the playoffs and both teams have shifted gears. Through 12 postseason games, the Knicks are averaging just 106.8 points per game, relying more heavily on defense and a half-court set. The Pacers, meanwhile, continue to lean into their identity, averaging a scorching 117.7 points per game over their 10 playoff contests. The contrast of styles is obvious. Indiana has firepower on offense. The Knicks grind it out on defense to make things happen on offense.
How They Got Here
The Pacers earned their spot in the conference finals by dominating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in that series, 4-1.
Meanwhile, the Knicks easily took care of the defending NBA Champions Boston Celtics in six games.
Different Faces, Same Stakes
It’s been over 50 years since the Knicks last raised an NBA title banner (1970 and 1973), and the Pacers are still seeking their first ever. One thing is clear. Whichever team survives this Eastern Conference series will definitely have earned their spot on the game’s biggest stage.
Back in 2000, the Knicks were coached by Jeff Van Gundy and the Pacers by Larry Bird. Now, it’s Tom Thibodeau versus Rick Carlisle. Different faces, same stakes. If the past is any indication, this will be more than a basketball series. It will be a battle of legacies and maybe a little revenge.
Eastern Conference Finals & Future Odds
According to the oddsmakers, the Knicks enter the series as slight favorites:
- Knicks to win Eastern Conference: -145
- Pacers to win Eastern Conference: +120
- Knicks to win NBA Championship: +350
- Pacers to win NBA Championship: +650
Tip-off for Game 1 is Wednesday night at The Garden. Let the history begin again.
Thank you for reading my History Repeats: Knicks and Pacers Set for Eastern Conference Finals article. Follow me on Twitter/X. For NBA and other sports articles, check out Pete’s Sports Blog and subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more videos. Image credits: New York Knicks & Indiana Pacers.
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