Who is the X-factor for Pacers-Knicks Eastern Conference Finals?
The Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and the Pacers could be tight. Here are players who think they can break through the series and tilt it.
The rivalry will be updated in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks fight for a trip to the NBA Finals and begin the series in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. Both teams had to beat tough teams in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs to reach the penultimate round of the postseason. Indiana knocked down the top seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, while New York rejected repeated bids from the Boston Celtics by defeating the defending champion in six games.
From Reggie Miller to Spike Lee, the rivalry has brewed many iconic moments in playoff history, and we hope there will be more unforgettable memories when the Knicks and Pacer meet in the postseason.
Follow USA Today Sports for all the highlights of Pacer vs. Knicks Game 1 from Madison Square Garden.
NEW YORK – The Indiana Pacers managed to barely miss out in the first quarter. The second was a different story – at least at the beginning.
The frame after shooting 73.7% from the floor, the pacer cooled quite a bit. An air ball 3 seconds, a smoke layup and a wide open dunk attempt by Obitoppin (a player known to rattle dunks at home with power) has even bumped into him from the back of the rim. Indiana started a game where they tried to make their first nine shot attempt, followed by making nine of nine out of 24.
This allowed the Knicks to score a 13-1 run in the middle of the quarter, building a seven-point lead heading towards halftime 69-62.
New York is not escaping the game’s fast tempo. This is like the strength of the pacer. The Knicks were also seeking a race out during the transition to post quick shot attempts. Another area where the Knicks outweigh the Pacers is on top of the glass, where New York has a 35-29 advantage.
With All-Star Point Guard Tyrees Halliburton scored the team’s final 10 points, the Pacers will fix it later in the period to stop the bleeding.
Jalen Brunson (18 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (15) and Mikal Bridges (12) lead the way to the Knicks.
The stars are like us – They get a star track too.
TNT commentator Kenny Smith looked inside to fans about how players feel competing in front of a star-studded crowd, particularly at Madison Square Garden in New York and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
“You can’t look left. You can’t look right. You can’t look at the right. Spikeley, Ben Stiller, all the famous rappers you’ve ever wanted to talk about, so you need to stay focused. “When you’re in the Eastern Conference Finals, you have to knock it out and not pay attention to any of them.” – Cydney Henderson
See which celebrities, musicians, actors and former players are sitting courtside in Game 1.
New York – The Eastern Conference Finals began with a surge.
The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks washed away shots at ferocious speeds in the first quarter, with both teams combining 29-42 (69.0%) from the field. However, with a 13-5 run to close the quarter, the Knicks are taking a two-point lead to 36-34 in the second quarter.
Indiana made each of their first nine field goal attempts, and by the time they connected to the first seven, all five starters scored.
The Pacers shot an outrageous 73.7% from the first field. Center Miles Turner hit all five attempts and led by 11 points.
The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson (9 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
What time is Pacer and Knicks?
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers will be ET on Wednesday, May 21st at 8pm.
How to watch Pacer and Knicks: TV, Stream
- time: 8. pm
- position: Madison Square Garden; New York
- tv set: TNT
- stream: Max, sling
Shy Gilgauss Alexander got off to a great start. He continued to play like an MVP, and Oklahoma City continued to win.
The Thunder finished 68-14 and scored the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Gilgauss Alexander is one of the three finalists in the MVP after filming league best and career-high 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 stills, 1.0 blocks and 51.9% to 51.9% from the field. Guards (8.8) who increased free throws per game led the league with free throws per game (7.9).
The best team and best players, the All-Star and first-team All-NBA guards deserve MVP.
It’s Gil Alexander. Read on to see why Jeff Zirgitt thinks the SGA deserves the award here.
Editor’s Note: The NBA MVP Awards are voted by 100 members of media selected by the league. Voting takes place before the postseason. USA Today Sports Reporter Jeff Zillgitt votes.
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Shy Gilgauss Alexander, who led his team to the NBA’s best records, was named the league’s most valuable player on Wednesday’s “NBA on TNT Pre-Game Show.”
The 26-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander is the third Thunder player to win an MVP. Kevin Durant won the honor in 2014, and Russell Westbrook won it in 2017.
Gill Alexander is from Canada, so this is the seventh consecutive season in which foreign-born players have won awards.
ESPN was the first to report the news.
Thunder, led by Gilgeous-Alexander, won 68 regular season games. This included winning the Eastern Conference 29-1, averaging 12.9 points per game, 1,055 points ahead of their opponents.
Gilgeous-Alexander received first place (equivalent to 10 points) and 29 votes (equivalent to 7 points) to win the award with 913 points. Three-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic won the other 29 votes and 71st place second-place votes to finish with 787 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished third (470 points) and finished in the top four for the seventh consecutive year. Jason Tatum finished fourth (311 points) and Donovan Mitchell finished in the top five (74 points). – – Scooby Axson Jace Evans
They didn’t face each other in the NBA playoffs until 1993, but the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers soon became acquainted with each other.
The two franchises played six memorable playoff series against each other during eight seasons, including their second matchup in the 1999 and 2000 Eastern Conference Finals.
A quarter century later, we’ll be back at the NBA Finals spot, with the Knicks vs. Pacers. The two teams will be given a new life with the rise of the Knicks under Jaren Branson and the rise of the Pacers against Tillys Halibton in the last two seasons, starting the Best of Seven Series in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, rekindling one of the league’s great rivals of the 1990s, and with the rise of the Knicks under Jaren Branson and the Pacers’ rise with Tillys Halibton in the last two seasons. Read the story of Mark Jeannott here.
In many ways, the Eastern Conference Finals is a contrasting style of battle.
The Indiana Pacers love to speed up the game, but the New York Knicks tend to play on purpose. This series is determined by the team that determines its style.
The stakes are high. If the Pacers win the series, they have a chance to make their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000 and win the first Larry O’Brien Trophy. Meanwhile, New York will appear in its first NBA Finals since 1999 and have a chance to win its first title since 1973. Read Lorenzo Reyes’ analysis here.
Marquee’s matchup is point guard and is expected to see Knicks Jaren Branson and Pacers’ Tyrees Halliburton carry their respective teams. But from role players to coaches making the necessary adjustments, each team needs more to move forward. Read Lorenzo Reyes’ five storylines.
Pacers vs. Knicks Prediction: Game 1 Expert Picks
USA Today sports experts make predictions before Eastern Conference Final Game 1.
Pacers vs. Knicks series winner
- Jeff Zirgitt: 6 pacers
- Lorenzo Reyes: Seven in Knicks
- Heather Tucker: Seven in Knicks
- James Williams: Six Knicks
- Jordan Mendoza: 7-year-old Knicks
- Scooby Axson: The Knicks of 7
- Cydney Henderson: Six Knicks
Pacer vs. Knicks Game 1 winner
- Jeff Zirgitt: Indiana Pacers
- Lorenzo Reyes: New York Knicks
- Heather Tucker: Indiana Pacers
- James Williams: Indiana Pacers
- Jordan Mendoza: New York Knicks
- Scooby Axson: New York Knicks
- Cydney Henderson: New York Knicks
Pacer vs. Knicks Odds
Odds via betmgm as of Monday, May 19th
Game 1 odds
- Spread it: Knicks (-4.5)
- Money Line: Knicks (-185); Pacers (+150)
- Over/Under: 223.5
Probability to win the Eastern Conference Finals
- New York Knicks: -155
- Indiana Pacers: +130
Watch Pacer and Knicks Game 11
(Always East; * – if necessary)
- Game 1: Knicks’ pacer
- Game 2: Knicks’ Pacer | Friday, May 23rd, 8pm | TNT
- Game 3: Pacers Knicks | Sunday, May 25th, 8pm | TNT
- Game 4: Pacers Knicks | Tuesday, May 27th, 8pm | TNT
- Game 5: Knicks’ Pacer | Thursday, May 29th at 8pm | tnt *
- Game 6: Pacers Knicks | Saturday, May 31st, 8pm | tnt*
- Game 7: Knicks’ Pacer | Monday, June 2nd at 8pm | tnt*
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