The Knicks and Pacers are set for a fierce Eastern Conference Finals showdown, reviving a decades-old NBA rivalry. Here’s why this series feels like more than just basketball.
It’s beginning to resemble a high-stakes championship bout more than a playoff series — and not just because Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton recently shared a moment in the WWE ring at Madison Square Garden.
This isn’t just a postseason matchup. This is the continuation of a rivalry rooted in NBA history.
Knicks vs. Pacers: A Rivalry Reborn
The New York Knicks have lost their last three playoff meetings with the Indiana Pacers, including two grueling battles in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Most notably, the Knicks’ last trip to the Conference Finals in 2000 ended in a heart-wrenching six-game loss to Indiana — a memory that still stings fans in the Big Apple.
While some may still downplay the Pacers, their recent playoff resume is worth examining. Last postseason, they knocked off a Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks squad and narrowly edged out a Knicks team held together by sheer determination and duct tape. But when they faced a full-strength Boston Celtics team in the Conference Finals, they crumbled under pressure, blowing leads late and getting swept out of the playoffs.
This Year Feels Familiar — But Different
Once again, the Pacers had an easier path through the East. They beat Milwaukee (this time without Damian Lillard) and advanced past a Cavaliers team missing Darius Garland. But now, their road leads to a completely different Knicks squad — one that’s healthy, battle-tested, and brimming with resolve.
Despite securing the No. 3 seed, the Knicks have flown under the radar. Their gritty six-game battle with the surging Detroit Pistons nearly cut their postseason short. Then came the Celtics — reigning champs — who many expected would end the Knicks’ run.
But Tom Thibodeau’s squad had other plans. With a defense-first mentality, relentless effort, and a bit of New York swagger, the Knicks clawed their way back into the spotlight, earning their first Conference Finals berth in 25 years.
Grit, Guts, and a Shot at Glory
What separates this Knicks team isn’t just talent — it’s toughness. It’s a squad fueled by urgency, chemistry, and a desire to rewrite the narrative. Jalen Brunson has emerged as a bonafide playoff superstar, while complementary pieces like OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Karl-Anthony Towns have elevated their games when it matters most.
Now, with the stakes higher than ever, Knicks vs. Pacers isn’t just a basketball series. It’s a grudge match decades in the making, one that promises to deliver drama, intensity, and maybe even a new chapter of Eastern Conference history.
