Bring your folding chairs! Knicks grapple with Pacers in home opener tonight.
After waiting 159 days for a rematch, the New York Knicks (0-1) will finally get their chance to right a wrong when they host Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers (1-0) in their first home game of the season tonight.
On May 19, 2024, the 6th-seeded Pacers upset the 2nd-seeded Knicks in the final game of the seven-game Eastern Conference Semifinals and advanced to the Conference Finals (they lost). All-Star point guard Haliburton led the Pacers, while Jalen Brunson made Knicks history with over 300 points and 70 assists in the playoffs. The high-scoring Hoosiers might have been swept out of Gotham if our heroes weren’t reduced to five-and-a-half players and an empty box of Band-Aids.
To start the current campaign, the Knicks stumbled out of the gate, falling to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. In the 132-109 loss, Jayson Tatum racked up 37 points and his team tied an NBA record with 29 three-pointers. Despite Brunson’s 22 points, the Knicks struggled defensively and acutely felt the absence of Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa.
On Wednesday, the Pacers won their first game, a close one against the Detroit Pistons 115-109 at Little Caesars Arena. Myles Turner led Indiana with 20 points, while Bennedict Mathurin and Pascal Siakam each contributed 19. The game was tight until the fourth quarter, when Indiana outscored the home team 33-19 and Haliburton heroics secured the win.
The Indiana Pacers are projected by some to finish the 2024-25 season at 46-36—a slight regression but still in playoff contention. Led by Haliburton and the re-signed Siakam, their offense remains potent, though their defense still looks suspicious on paper. They have a solid core, and the Eastern Conference will be highly competitive, but Indiana could be playoff dark horses if they score more points than they surrender.
Indiana Starters
Tyrese Haliburton has stepped into NBA stardom since being drafted 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2020. Traded to the Pacers in 2022, he became an All-Star in 2023 with averages of 20.7 points and 10.4 assists per game. Last season he made the All-NBA Third Team, and this summer Indiana rewarded his efforts with a five-year, $244.62 million contract extension. He played through injury during much of the last campaign; evidently healthy now, he should further cement his reputation as one of the league’s best point guards. Tonight he’ll square off against Jalen Brunson, whom he last met in the squared circle.
Indiana drafted Andrew Nembhard 31st in 2022, and he made an immediate impact by averaging 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in his rookie season. Starting 63 of 75 games, he quickly proved himself as a valuable and efficient contributor. Against the Knicks in the 2024 Eastern Conference Semis, the sophomore averaged 12.3 points, five assists, and three rebounds while shooting 53%. In Game Seven, he shot 8-of-10 from the field and scored 20 points. That stung, my friends.
After starting with the Celtics, Aaron Nesmith revitalized his career after a 2022 trade to the Pacers. Settled in America’s heartland, the 6’5” 3-and-D wing capitalized on increased playing time to average over 10 points per game and became a key contributor to the team. He averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists but shot poorly from behind the arc against the Knicks in the Semis.
With the Toronto Raptors, the incredible spinning Pascal Siakam gradually transformed into a key player, winning the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2019 and helping the Raptors secure their first championship. A two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, the 6’8”, 230 lb forward was traded during Toronto’s midseason house-cleaning and averaged 20.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and three assists in his seven playoff games against the Knicks. This summer, the 30-year-old signed a four-year, $189.5 million contract with Indiana.
Myles Turner, drafted 11th by the Pacers in 2015, has become a solid two-way center thanks to his shot-blocking and a respectable outside shot. After signing a two-year, $60 million extension in January 2023, he continues to be a cornerstone in Indiana. Basketball Reference projects him to score 21 points, nine rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game this season. Also: he loves his Legos.
Prediction
Last season, the Knicks-Pacers rivalry reignited, and expectations are high for the 2024-25 season as both teams look to prove their toughness in the East. After losing their first regular-season game on Tuesday, New York will be eager to rebound and take revenge against a more mortal foe. Tonight, the Knicks should have an easier time getting open looks, and a dogged defense will do what Detroit didn’t: hand the Hoosiers a loss. Knicks win it in crunch time by +4.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers
When: Friday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
Watch: ESPN, MSG Network
Follow: @ptknicksblog