Pacers and Knicks ready to make new NBA playoff memories
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The Pacers and Knicks are ready to run it back. Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images
The Pacers-Knicks playoff rivalry will be rekindled tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Why it matters: The best-of-seven series that tips off in just hours is the big one for the Eastern Conference, with the winner advancing to the NBA Finals to face either the Timberwolves or Thunder.
The big picture: A Pacers triumph would suddenly give sports fans from around the globe another reason to book a trip to the Circle City this summer after the Indianapolis 500 and before July's WNBA All-Star Game.
What they're saying: Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam said it will be important to acknowledge the significance of the series without getting overwhelmed by the noise.
- "Be present in the moment and worry about us," he said after practice Tuesday. "History is always gonna write itself at the end of the day. You can't worry about that. You've got to worry about us wanting to get better every game."
State of play: While many pundits and Cleveland-born, Central Indiana-based local news reporters incorrectly predicted a different final pairing, Pacers vs. Knicks is must-see TV that brings together two of the nation's most passionate basketball cities.
Flashback: Indiana has a 5-3 all-time record against New York in the playoffs.
- The rivalry hit its peak in the late '90s, when the teams played each other six times in the postseason from 1993 to 2000.
- That era also gave birth to the epic Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee beef.
- Last year, the Pacers sent the Knicks home from the Eastern Conference semifinals in seven games.
- They have met in the conference finals three times, where the Knicks hold a 2-1 advantage.
Fun fact: This week's series was also accompanied by the news that Pacers star and big shot artist Tyrese Haliburton will finally make his debut as a WWE wrestler — but only digitally.
- Haliburton made a surprise guest appearance on WWE's "Raw" on Netflix this week to announce that he will be a playable character in the WWE 2K25 video game, followed by a screenshot of his in-game render.
- Fans will be able to pit Hali against the likes of John Cena and The Rock on June 25.
- Two other NBA players will be announced as playable wrestlers in the coming weeks.
💭 Justin's thought bubble: The NBA and WWE would be fools to not make Jalen Brunson one of the other players featured in the game, especially considering the obvious hints being dropped.
- The bigger question is whether "Tyrese 3:17" will be the grateful babyface he was Monday night on "Raw" or the brass knuckle-packing heel he was when he went toe-to-toe with Brunson in MSG in June 2024.
What's next: Tipoff is tonight at 8pm on TNT, TruTV and Max.
How to listen: 93.5/107.5 The Fan.
If you go: The series comes to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Sunday at 8pm. Tickets start at about $300.
- Tickets for Game 4 at 8pm Tuesday start around $230.