Pacers-Knicks Round 2 series set: Schedule, key storylines, clash of styles
The Indiana Pacers advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade and face a familiar foe in the New York Knicks. The two teams' playing styles couldn't be more different.
Four down, 12 to go for the Indiana Pacers.
That’s how many wins are required to win an NBA championship. And while that is far-fetched because they hadn’t reached the postseason since 2020, it should be what the team is thinking about entering the weekend.
It’s been a while since they’ve been in this position. It’s been 10 years, in fact, since they won their first-round playoff series. After being one-and-done in six of those years, they are now on to the second round after handling the Bucks in six games, 120-98.
Consider how Myles Turner had never won a playoff series as a pro. He was drafted by the Pacers in 2015. So more than anyone, I thought of him as the team celebrated the win Thursday night.
The Pacers won eight of 11 meetings with the Bucks this season and in the postseason, they scored at least 120 points in all four wins. Pace, points, and perseverance were key to finish the job at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where they are 3-0 in the postseason.
And they closed out the series in front of another strong crowd, the 20th sellout of the season. For comparison, they had seven sellouts last season.
“I thought our guys learned an awful lot in this series,” head coach Rick Carlisle said afterward. “It's hard to go through a playoff series against an experienced team like this as your first time in the playoffs. And we had a lot of guys that were first-timers in this. But they learned the things that you need to learn along the way.”
So now the Pacers are moving on to face the New York Knicks, who finished off the Philadelphia 76ers in six games as well on Thursday.
It feels like 2013 all over again.
That’s when the Pacers and Knicks met in the Eastern Conference semifinals — a series we all remember for 1) Roy Hibbert’s block on Carmelo Anthony (see top photo) and 2) Indiana’s depth shining through.
I’ll never forget their Game 6 win at home — and how the entire starting lineup came to the postgame interview room as a group. Because that’s how they excelled. That team then went on to challenge the Miami Heat in the conference finals.
Sound familiar? The current bunch is the same way.
“The thing I love about our team is that we're a true team,” Carlisle added. “We've got some great individual players, but we're a group that needs each other. And I think it's something that the people of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana can get behind.”
The Game 6 close-out game in 2013 was also memorable — to me, at least — because head coach Frank Vogel had both of his daughters on his lap for his postgame interview session. They are both now in college.
Now, both the Pacers and Knicks now have three days between games. And after being scheduled for one nationally televised game before the season, every game in the series will be seen by a nationally audience. There is no local broadcast.
Schedule
G1: Monday, May 6 at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT
G2: Wednesday, May 8, at New York, 8:00 p.m. ET | TNT
G3: Friday, May 10 v New York, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
G4: Sunday, May 12 v New York, 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC
G5*: Tuesday, May 14 at New York, TBD | TNT
G6*: Friday, May 17 v New York, TBD | ESPN
G7*: Sunday, May 19 at New York, TBD | TBD
🔑 Key Storylines
There are countless storylines for this upcoming series. Here’s just a sample.
Hicks vs Knicks.
Reggie Miller and Spike Lee.
Donnie Walsh.
Carlisle drafted and coached Knicks star Jalen Brunson in Dallas.
Tyrese Haliburton and Brunson became close during USA Basketball World Cup play last fall. And Haliburton made the Paris Olympic roster while Brunson did not.