The deep-rooted playoff history between the Knicks and the Pacers is poised to add yet another chapter.
The Knicks completed an unexpected bouncing of the defending-champion Celtics with a 119-81 thrashing in Game 6 Friday night at the Garden.
Combined with Indiana’s impressive five-game elimination of the top-seeded Cavaliers, it sets up a second straight year pitting the longtime postseason rivals — this time in the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks’ first appearance in the league semis since 2000.
The sides also squared off in the second round one year ago, with Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers surviving the heavily banged-up Knicks squad in seven games before falling to Boston in the conference finals.
“It’s going to be a tough opponent,” Josh Hart said of the Pacers. “They push the pace. They run on makes, misses. And it’s going to be a huge communication series for us. We are going to have to be locked in on every possession. Have to get back defensively.
“So we can build off this game. I feel our communication was great today and that’s something we can carry into that series. We just have to make sure we are prepared.”
The latest head-to-head clash will open with Games 1 and 2 at the Garden beginning Wednesday before shifting to Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 on Sunday.
Jalen Brunson dribbles up court during the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 6 series-clinching win over the Celtics on May 16, 2025.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Consider these last two spring encounters as a strong starting point to renewing the rivalry that saw the Knicks face MSG uber-villain Reggie Miller and the Pacers in postseason play six times in eight seasons between 1993 and 2000.
There was Miller’s 25-point fourth quarter and choke sign directed at Spike Lee in 1994, and his eight points in nine seconds the following year, all of which continues to live in Garden infamy.
There also was Larry Johnson’s late-game four-point play in Game 3 of the 1999 ECF to help vault the Knicks into the NBA Finals, becoming the first No. 8 seed in league history to get that deep, before falling in five games to the Spurs.
There was one other memorable playoff series in 2013, although Knicks fans would prefer to forget the sight of Carmelo Anthony getting his dunk attempt rejected by Roy Hibbert in the fourth quarter of the Game 6 clincher.
Tyrese Haliburton dribbles the ball during the Pacers’ Game 5
road win over the Cavaliers on May 13, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images
This will mark the second straight year pitting two of the best point guards in the league — Haliburton and Knicks captain Jalen Brunson, who averaged 29.7 points in last year’s series against the Pacers before suffering a broken hand late in Game 7.
OG Anunoby also missed four games in that series after suffering a painful hamstring injury in Game 2. He attempted to return to the lineup for Game 7, but was forced to leave the game after five minutes of action and did not return.
The Knicks fell to the Pacers last year in the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks took two of three during this year’s season series, with newcomer Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 30.3 points and 12.0 rebounds, including a 40-point effort in a 128-115 road win on Feb. 11. Hart also registered a season-high 30 points in that game.
The Knicks shot 53.9 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from 3-point land in those games while averaging 124.0 points.
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“Style of play, they’re an excellent basketball team,” Tom Thibodeau said. “When you look at the guard play, with Haliburton, [Andrew] Nembhard and [T.J.] McConnell, they can push it and break you down off the dribble. So you have to be very disciplined in your approach. They can spread you out. [Pascal] Siakam and [Myles] Turner are very talented bigs. We understand what the challenge is.”
