A lot of basketball fans didn't expect the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers to advance past the first round. They both had impressive series to open up the NBA playoffs, though, while also benefiting from their opponents having injury issues. Now, the two teams will play each other in the second round, and in this article, we will explain how you can watch their series.
Where is the Knicks vs. Pacers series?
The Knicks are the two-seed in the Eastern Conference, which means they will have home-court advantage in the second round. They will host Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The Pacers play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, and they will host Games 3, 4, and 6. Excluding games on TNT, you can watch the NBA playoffs on fuboTV.
How to watch Knicks vs. Pacers
Game 1: Pacers @ Knicks on Monday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 2: Pacers @ Knicks on Wednesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. ET – TNT
Game 3: Knicks @ Pacers on Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. ET – ESPN
Game 4: Knicks @ Pacers on Sunday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC
Game 5: Pacers @ Knicks (TBD)
Game 6: Knicks @ Pacers (TBT)
Game 7: Pacers @ Knicks (TBD)
Knicks storylines
The Knicks and Pacers play two very different styles, but both teams are led by an All-Star point guard who really came onto the scene this season. For the Knicks, that is Jalen Brunson. The former Maverick had 11 40-point games this season and proved that he is a true franchise player.
He helped the Knicks to their best record in over a decade with the help of his college teammates. Former Villanova stars Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart have taken their games to new levels on the Knicks, and they perfectly fit Tom Thibodeau's style.
DiVincenzo has become one of the best shooters in the NBA, and Hart has become one of the best-rebounding non-bigs in the league. Thibodeau embraces an old-school style of play, and his bench doesn't go very deep. In addition to the former Villanova stars, OG Anunoby plays elite defense, Isaiah Hartenstein has taken over as the team's starting center, Mitchell Robinson has thrived off the bench, and Miles McBride does the little things to help the team win.
They don't play a style of basketball that looks like it belongs in 2024, but it works. The team plays with great hustle and high-intensity defense, which wears down opponents and leads to wins. Julius Randle is hurt, so it would be very impressive if the team could advance to the Conference Finals without him, but it is hard to doubt the team right now with how they are playing.
Pacers storylines
While it is a gritty style that has gotten New York to this point, it is a dynamic offense that makes Indiana elite. In fact, the Pacers' 123.3 points per game were the most in the league this year. Tyrese Haliburton is their star point guard. Like Brunson, he didn't start his career with the team he is now on. Haliburton was traded for from the Sacramento Kings, and he has thrived since being handed the keys to the Pacers' offense.
Haliburton led the league in assists per game this season and has become arguably the best playmaker in the league. His running mate was also a trade acquisition. Pascal Siakam was added at the NBA trade deadline, and he has made a scary offense even scarier.
The team will need to step things up on defense if they want to beat the Knicks, though, especially when it comes to guarding Brunson. Luckily, Myles Turner is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. Additionally, T.J. McConnell is an irritant and will be counted on to make life harder for the Knicks' point guard.
Indiana can score with anybody, but playoff basketball is a different breed, and you need to be able to grind out wins. The Pacers proved they could do that with their first-round win over the Bucks, but Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for most of that series. The Knicks won their first-round series against a Philadelphia 76ers team led by Joel Embiid. The star big man was clearly not at full strength, though, so it will be interesting to see how these teams compete against healthier lineups.
Brunson may have a little extra motivation this series, too, as his former Mavericks coach, Rick Carlisle, is now the coach of the Pacers. Carlisle famously benched Brunson in the 2021 NBA playoffs before he became the star he is today. So, who do you think will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals?
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