- NBA Playoffs 2025 Bracket: Schedule, TV channels, and results in the Conference Finals
- New York, the city that never sleeps, is desperate for a sports championship, and the Knicks could be its last hope for the foreseeable future
The latest chapter in the longstanding rivalry between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks will unfold in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, with Game 1 tipping off at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. The stakes couldn't be higher, as both teams fight for a spot in the NBA Finals, hoping to cap off their impressive postseason runs with a championship appearance.
First win in a East Finals sin 2004 for Indiana.
WHAT A COMEBACK!
Pacers take Game 1!
The Pacers trailed by double digits with two minutes left in the game and now they have Game!
Knicks two threes and Indiana has the ball with .2 secons left!
Huuuuuuge basket and the Pacer lead by three with 15.3 left!
Now Indiana by one with 18.9.
New York by one with 1:32 left
Huuuuuuuge three and Indiana is within one!
Knicks take a four point lead in OT.
Look at this
A BUZZER THRE FOR THE PACERS AND THEY TIE IT AT THE END!
Two free throws for the Pacers and it's a one point game, as the Knicks go to the line now. 12 seconds left.
A three point game and Indiana goes to the line.
Another three by the Pacrs and now they are only down by two with 22 seconds left!
It's a five point game with Indiana with the ball with 29.9 seconds left, they have to move fast!
Oh dear...
Enough said...
Pacers looking for a late push
REJECTED AND THE KNICKS LOOK SOLID!
OH DEAR LORD!
The Knicks are hot!
Knicks taking control
Strong start to the fourth
Here we go!
Great D
Pascal is working for a comeback
Oh stop it
The legend is here
Oh, they came out tonight
Looking for control early in the third
Everyone did
OH MY!
Yes they are
This watch party is lit
Look who it is
Indiana in coming back
In transition they are good
The game is still close but the Knicks are taking control
They came out to the game
Making it rain
Things are tight towards the second quarter
What a start to this one...
Did we say up and down?
Up and down the court
We have a game...
First points of the game...
HERE WE GO!
Indiana as well...
New York is ready!
They are getting ready
Check this out
It's almost go time
So, who do you got?
A rivalry for the ages
Both teams have a lor of history between them and against each other and tonight a new chapter will be written.
The Knicks enter the series after six-game victories over the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, showcasing their defensive intensity and ability to close games late. Meanwhile, the Pacers took care of business quickly, dispatching their first two opponents in just five games each. With both teams riding strong playoff performances, this series promises to be a physical and strategic battle.
One of the biggest storylines will be Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin, who tormented the Knicks in their regular-season meetings, including a career-high 38-point performance in November. Mathurin's aggressive scoring and ability to pressure the paint will be critical as Indiana looks to wear down New York over the course of the series. The Knicks, however, rely on Jalen Brunson to carry them in crunch-time situations, with New York boasting a 6-2 record in clutch playoff games thanks to his scoring and leadership.
The Pacers struggled on the boards in all three regular-season contests against the Knicks, getting outrebounded 130-101 overall. If Indiana hopes to tilt the series in its favor, Pascal Siakam will need to step up in the frontcourt, battling his former Raptors teammate OG Anunoby in key moments. Siakam averaged 16.7 points and six rebounds against New York this season, and his ability to establish a presence in the post will be crucial.
With Reggie Miller on the call for TNT, this matchup carries historical significance, reigniting a rivalry that has defined playoff battles for decades. Both teams have undergone major transformations, with the Pacers looking to reclaim dominance and the Knicks striving for their first NBA Finals appearance in over 25 years.
Projected starters for Game 1 include Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner for the Pacers, while the Knicks will field Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. With no shortage of star power and tactical matchups, this series has the potential to be one of the most thrilling of the postseason.