2023-24 Game Preview

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Wheat Hotchkiss

Monday, May 27 at 8:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

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Indiana Pacers Media Availability | May 26, 2024

After losing a lead in the final minute in Game 3 on Saturday, the Pacers trail the Boston Celtics 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and face a simple scenario heading into Game 4 on Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Indiana must win on Monday to extend its season. If not, the Celtics will return to the NBA Finals for the second time in the last three years.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL:&nbsp;Follow Indiana's Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>

The Pacers are coming off a frustrating finish to Game 3, where they led by as many as 18 points in the second half, only to see the Celtics storm back and surge ahead in the final minute for a 114-111 victory.

It was especially frustrating given how well the Pacers played for the majority of the night despite missing All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton due to a left hamstring injury. In Haliburton's absence, fellow point guards Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell stepped up, combining for 53 points, 13 rebounds, and 15 assists.

In the end, however, the Celtics out-executed Indiana in crunch time. Jrue Holiday scored the go-ahead basket in the final minute, then stripped the ball from Nembhard in the closing seconds to seal the win.

"Obviously this one stings, but there’s no guy in this locker room that’s packed it in," McConnell vowed after the loss. "We’re going to try to get one here and extend this series and then go back to Boston and try to make things difficult. There’s no guy in this locker room that’s going to quit. I’ll tell you that much."

The biggest question heading into Game 4 is the status of Haliburton. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said prior to Game 3 that the star guard really wanted to play on Saturday, but the decision "was taken out of his hands" as the team elected to sit him. Carlisle expressed hope that Haliburton could potentially be available on Monday, but that remains to be seen.

Whether or not Haliburton is available, the Pacers have been at their best all season when facing adversity. They dropped Game 1 of each of their first two playoff series and rallied to win each time and staved off elimination twice in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against New York. Coming back from a 3-0 deficit would be a historic achievement, but the first step is simple: find a way win a game at home on Monday night.

Pacers: G - Andrew Nembhard, G - Ben Sheppard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner

Celtics: G - Jrue Holiday, G - Derrick White, F - Jaylen Brown, F - Jayson Tatum, C - Al Horford

Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton - questionable (sore left hamstring), Jalen Smith - questionable (illness), Bennedict Mathurin - out (right shoulder labral tear)

Celtics: Jrue Holiday - questionable (non-COVID illness), Luke Kornet - questionable (left wrist sprain), Kristaps Porzingis - out (right soleus strain)

May 25, 2024: The Pacers led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, but the Celtics rallied and ultimately closed Game 3 with a 13-2 run to steal a 114-111 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Nembhard scored 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting and dished out nine assists to lead Indiana in the loss. T.J. McConnell finished with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, and six assists in 29 minutes off the bench for Indiana. Myles Turner recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam had 22 and six assists.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, going 12-for-23 from the field, 5-for-10 from 3-point range, and 7-for-11 from the free throw line. Jaylen Brown added 24 points and Al Horford scored 23 points while going 7-for-12 from beyond the arc.

“They just didn’t go away," McConnell said of Boston's comeback. "You’ve got to give credit where credit’s due. They kept chipping away and just made one more play than we did."

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

TV: ESPN - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

The Pacers and Celtics will meet again at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 4 on Monday, May 27 at 8:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Celtics (Game 4)

Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The Pacers find themselves in a familiar position heading into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana dropped two games in Boston to open the best-of-seven series and returns home trailing 0-2, just like they did in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against New York.

The Blue & Gold were able to overcome that deficit in the last round, winning Games 3 and 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and eventually taking the series in seven games.

It won't be an easy task to repeat this round, but if the Pacers are going to climb back into this series, it will start on Saturday.

No team has been tougher to beat at home over the last two months than the Pacers. Indiana is a perfect 6-0 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the playoffs — the only remaining team in the postseason that has yet to drop a home game. Dating back to the regular season, the Pacers have won 11 straight home games and having lost in Indiana since March 18.

The Celtics, meanwhile, are a perfect 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, sweeping two road games in Miami in the first round and Cleveland in the second round. Something has to give on Saturday.

RELATED: After Celtics Held Serve, Pacers Prepared to Protect Home Court >>

The biggest question heading into Saturday is the health of Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton exited with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter of Game 2 on Thursday and did not return after being diagnosed with a sore left hamstring. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said that Haliburton would be evaluated Friday.

"We hope that this is a very short-term aggravation," Carlisle said "But again, we’ll know more tomorrow and then Saturday obviously, the next game is coming quickly."

Not having Haliburton for Game 3 would be a significant blow for Indiana. The 24-year-old is averaging 18.7 points and 8.2 assists per game in the playoffs and is the driving force behind one of the league's most dynamic offenses.

Without Haliburton (or with a limited version of him), the Pacers would rely more heavily on Pascal Siakam has their lead option. The two-time All-Star is coming off a tremendous performance in Game 2, where he scored 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting, at one point scoring 20 of 24 points for Indiana across the end of the first and start of the second halves.

Although Haliburton is Indiana's star, the Pacers do have two other capable point guards who have had strong postseasons. Second-year guard Andrew Nembhard has been starting at shooting guard, but can slide over to the point. He is averaging 13.1 points and 5 assists in the playoffs while shooting 55.9 percent from the field and 46.8 percent from 3-point range. Veteran backup T.J. McConnell has been a spark plug off the bench, averaging 10.8 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field.

Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner

Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton - questionable (sore left hamstring), Bennedict Mathurin - out (right shoulder labral tear)

Celtics: Jrue Holiday - questionable (non-COVID illness), Luke Kornet - doubtful (left wrist sprain), Kristaps Porzingis - out (right soleus strain)

May 23, 2024: Jaylen Brown matched his playoff career high with 40 points as the Celtics used a few key runs to come away with a 126-110 win in Game 2 at TD Garden.

The Celtics surged ahead at the start of the second quarter, when they reeled off 17 straight points, and then pushed the margin to double digits for good with a 16-5 spurt in the third quarter after Indiana had drawn within two.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with a team-high 28 points while going 13-for-17 from the field (2-for-2 from 3-point range). Andrew Nembhard finished with 16 points and five assists in the loss for Indiana, while Obi Toppin scored 11 points off the bench.

Derrick White added 23 points, four rebounds, and six assists for Boston, while All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum tallied 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

TV: ABC - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)

The Eastern Conference Finals will shift to Indianapolis when the Pacers host the Celtics for Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, May 25 at 8:30 PM ET. Find Tickets >>

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Celtics (Game 3)

Thursday, May 23 at 8:00 PM ET at TD Garden

The Pacers were seconds away from winning Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night at TD Garden, but ultimately came up just short. They will have a shot at redemption on Thursday, as they return for Game 2 against the Boston Celtics.

Despite falling behind 12-0 at the start of Tuesday's game and trailing by double digits midway through the third quarter, the Pacers showed their trademark resilience in Game 1, rallying to take a five-point lead with under two minutes to play.

They led 117-114 and had the ball with 10 seconds to play, but turned it over on an inbounds pass in their own backcourt. On the ensuing possession, Celtics forward Jaylen Brown hit a corner three over Pascal Siakam to tie the game. Tyrese Haliburton missed a potential game-winning shot on the other end and Boston ultimately prevailed in overtime, 133-128.

The Pacers were frustrated with the way they let Game 1 slip away, but also knew that they had done a lot of things right to put themselves in position to steal a game on the road against the East's top seed.

"We did so many good things in this game that it came down to a couple mistakes at the end," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said.

"Today we played great for about 47 minutes," Haliburton added. "Just didn’t sustain for 48. We’ll go back, watch some film, and there will be good and there will be bad. We’ll learn from it and will be a lot better in Game 2."

RELATED: Late-Game Miscues Cost Pacers in Game 1, But They Showed They Belong >>

The biggest issue for Indiana on Tuesday was taking care of the basketball. The Pacers had an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers, leading to 32 points for the Celtics on the other end. Two turnovers in the final minute of regulation loomed large, but it was an issue the entire night. Aaron Nesmith had a pass intercepted by Jayson Tatum leading to a fastbreak dunk for Brown on the opening possession of the game and the Blue & Gold had three giveaways in overtime.

While the disappointment from Game 1 stings, the Pacers vowed to not let it linger. They have bounced back well from losses all season. In fact, they dropped Game 1 in both of their two previous playoff series, but came back to win both series.

"We’ve been a tough-minded, resilient team really for almost the entire second half of the year," Carlisle said. "We have to continue with that and come back in here on Thursday night."

Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin - out (right shoulder labral tear)

Celtics: Xavier Tillman - questionable (personal reasons), Kristaps Porzingis - out (right soleus strain)

May 21, 2024: Jaylen Brown's corner three with 5.7 seconds remaining forced overtime, where the Celtics used an 8-0 run to come away with a 133-128 win in Game 1.

Tyrese Haliburton (25 points, 10 assists, and three steals), Pascal Siakam (24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists), and Myles Turner (23 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists) all recorded double-doubles for Indiana in the loss.

Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 36 points to go along with 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Jrue Holiday added 28 points, seven boards, eight assists, and three steals for Boston, while Brown finished with 26 points, seven boards, five assists, and three steals.

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Indiana Pacers Media Availability | May 22, 2024

“Just really encouraged with how hard we fought to get back into the game and to get a lead at the end. It was very unfortunate that we weren’t able to close it out. But there’s a difference between being disappointed and being dismayed. We’re disappointed, but we’re not dismayed. We’ve got to be ready to jump back in this thing tomorrow night.” -Carlisle on takeaways from Game 1

“I feel like we’ve been in situations like this. It’s the third series of this year that we’ve been in. I don’t know feel like the series is won in one game. We’ve just got to learn from it and correct our mistakes.” -Pacers forward Obi Toppin on the response to Game 1

“I was pissed yesterday. Very frustrated at myself just because I felt I like that one get away, I feel like I was a big reason for that getting away from us as a group. But I think what I’ve learned over this playoff run is that you’ve just got to move on. The minute you start dwelling on things that happened in the past, things can get bad. We understand we still have another game here. We could go home with the series tied and we like our chances at home against anyone. It’s just moving on and understanding that that’s one game. You take the good with the good, the bad with the bad, and you move on.” -Haliburton on his takeaways from Game 1

“I love this team, I love these guys. They have fought tooth and nail all year long. The things that they did to just qualify for one of the top-six spots to avoid the Play-In. We had to win high-pressure games down the stretch of the season. Looking back, you could look at it as a very daunting thing, but there was a great amount of growth. We’ve walked into three series as an underdog and on the road. You’ve just got to rally, you’ve got to take these challenges, you’ve got to rise above some of the challenges that happen, things that happen with officiating calls you don’t agree with during a game, this that or the other, and keep moving on the next play.” -Carlisle on the Pacers' resilience

“I think that’s what we do. I think that’s who we are and part of our identity as a group. We do a really good job of moving on when things don’t go well. Where we can get better is moving on when things do go well. In this instance, obviously felt like that’s one that got away from us and you lose. Feel like we’ve done a good job of responding all year. Even in that game, we started down 12-0, in the third quarter they got up like 10, we just kept responding. And they know we’re not going anywhere. We’ve just got to continue to sustain playing the right way for 48 minutes.” -Haliburton on the team’s resilience

“Our guys know they can compete with any team in the NBA. Boston just happens to be exceptionally better based upon their record and the statistical things that they’ve done this year and all that stuff. We respect them and we know that we’re going to have to play at an extreme high level to win games in this series.” -Carlisle on competing with the Celtics

“Not getting too high and not getting too low, that’s really the biggest thing for me. Throughout the course of a series, you’re going to have good games, you’re going to have bad games…Throughout this playoff run, I’ve had some really good games, some of my (worst) games of the whole season, to be honest. I think just understanding that that happens through the course of this and win, lose, good game, bad game, they’re all lessons. It’s my first playoff run. I’m learning a lot. Yesterday, honestly it sucks that it happened, but it’s good for me. It’s really one of the first playoff games that I really feel like, man, I f—d it up, it’s on me. It’s good to learn. I’m 24, I’ve got a lot of time, but I’m trying to win right now. Just trying to learn every day, learn from every game.” -Haliburton on how he’s learned to handle the mental challenges of the playoffs

“We’ve gotten to this point by fighting for every centimeter and millimeter of the court for 48 minutes a game. And that’s how it’s got to be. Going into Game 2, we’re just going to have to be more defiant about it and we’re going to have to be better.” -Carlisle on the team’s mentality heading into Game 2

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Celtics (Game 2)

Tuesday, May 21 at 8:00 PM ET at TD Garden

For the first time in 10 years, the Pacers are in the Eastern Conference Finals. After knocking off third-seeded Milwaukee and second-seeded New York in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the sixth-seeded Pacers will now square off with the top-seeded Boston Celtics in a best-of-seven series, with the winner advancing to the NBA Finals.

Indiana is coming off an all-time great performance on Sunday in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, where they set an NBA playoff record for field goal percentage, making 67.1 percent of their shots in a 130-109 win over the Knicks.

Six players scored in double figures in the victory, with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton leading the way with 26 points and six assists. Indiana got big contributions from its veterans, as Pascal Siakam scored 20 points, Myles Turner had 17 and blocked four shots, and T.J. McConnell tallied 12 points and seven assists of the bench. The Blue & Gold's young defensive-minded duo of Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, meanwhile, combined for 39 points on 16-of-18 shooting.

"We have a historic offense, obviously, but this guy (Haliburton) got things rolling and just everybody kind of followed suit," Turner said. "To do that on the road, here in the Garden, in Game 7, is phenomenal, but this is what we’ve been doing all season long and we were able to do it on the biggest stage."

RELATED: Pacers Come Together for All-Time Game 7 Performance >>

As great as the Pacers played to close out the series with the Knicks, they will face an even stiffer test this round against the Celtics. Boston was far away the top team in the East in the regular season, compiling a 64-18 record and finishing 14 games ahead of second-place New York. The Celtics ranked second in the NBA in the regular season in offensive rating (118.9 points per 100 possessions), third in defensive rating (106.1) and first in net rating (outscoring opponents by 12.8 points per 100 possessions).

Boston has a strong claim to the best starting five in the league. All-Star forwards Jayson Tatum (26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in the regular season) and Jaylen Brown (23 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists) lead the way, but the Celtics all have three more All-Star caliber players in center Kristaps Porzingis (20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks), and guards Derrick White (15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists) and Jrue Holiday (12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists).

The Celtics won each of their first two series in five games, defeating Miami in the first round Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Porzingis sustained a calf injury in Game 4 against the Heat and has not played since. He may return at some point in the Eastern Conference Finals, but is expected to miss at least the first two games of the series.

As good as the Celtics were in the regular season, the Pacers did beat them twice, including in the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals on Dec. 4. Both those victories came at home and prior to Indiana's mid-season trade for Siakam.

While the Pacers flew directly to Boston on Sunday night, the Celtics have been off since closing out their series with the Cavaliers on Wednesday. As good as Boston looked in the first two rounds, it did drop one of the first two games of each series at home against both Miami and Cleveland.

One storyline in this series will be Nesmith returning to Boston to face his former team. The Celtics drafted the 6-6 forward out of Vanderbilt with the 14th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Nesmith spent his first two years in Boston and was part of the team that reached the 2022 NBA Finals, but he had a limited role playing behind Tatum and Brown.

The Celtics traded Nesmith to Indiana in the summer of 2022 and he has flourished in his two seasons with the Blue & Gold, where he has been a two-year starter who takes on the toughest defensive assignments and knocks down shots on the offensive end. Nesmith averaged a career-best 12.1 points and 3.8 rebounds this season while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from 3-point range.

The deal worked out well for both sides, as Boston acquired Malcolm Brogdon from Indiana. Brogdon was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2022-23, then was used as one of the centerpieces in the traded that brought Holiday to the Celtics last offseason.

Jan. 30, 2024: The Pacers withstood a scorching-hot first half from the Celtics, battled back from a 20-point deficit, and even briefly retook the lead for one possession in the third quarter. But they didn't have quite enough to pull off the comeback, as the Celtics held on for a 129-124 win in Boston.

Seven Pacers finished in double figures, led by Aaron Nesmith, who tallied 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting (4-of-7 from 3-point range), 12 rebounds, and seven assists against the team that drafted him.

Pascal Siakam added 23 points and six rebounds, while Myles Turner scored 17 for the Blue & Gold.

All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton returned to the lineup after missing the past five games and 10 of the last 11 contests with a strained left hamstring. Haliburton played 22 minutes and recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists while going 5-for-16 from the field (1-for-5 from 3-point range). On a minutes restriction, Haliburton did not play in the fourth quarter, subbing out for the final time with 4:42 remaining in the third.

Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 30 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists, going 12-for-19 from the field and 4-for-9 from 3-point range. Jaylen Brown added 25 points and six rebounds, Derrick White tallied 24 points and five assists, while Jrue Holiday stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, five boards, four assists, three blocks, and a steal. Kristaps Porzingis recorded a double-double for the Celtics with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

TV: ESPN/ESPN2 - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)

Single game tickets for the Eastern Conference Finals will go on sale on Tuesday, May 21 at 4:00 PM ET. To sign up for presale access or guarantee playoff seats by placing a deposit on a 2024-25 season ticket plan, please visit Pacers.com/Playoffs.

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Game Preview: Pacers at Celtics (Game 1)

Sunday, May 19 at 3:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden

It all comes down to this. The 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Pacers and Knicks has gone the distance and will come down to a decisive Game 7 on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

The winner will advance to face the top-seeded Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, which begin on Tuesday in Boston. The loser's season will be over.

The Pacers forced a Game 7 thanks to a 116-103 win on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse where they played at a fever pitch from start to finish. After head coach Rick Carlisle called out his team's effort in a 30-point drubbing in Game 5 on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, the Blue & Gold responded by outhustling the Knicks on Friday.

Indiana outscored New York 62-38 in points in the paint and outrebounded the Knicks 47-35, a drastic turnaround from Game 5, when the Knicks outscored Indiana by 26 points in the paint and outrebounded the Pacers by 24.

While the Knicks' move to a smaller starting lineup — inserting 6-1 guard Miles McBride into the first unit in place of 6-8 forward Precious Achiuwa — was highly effective in Game 5, the Pacers found ways to counteract it on Friday, by attacking the rim and working the ball into 6-8 forward Pascal Siakam in the post, where he was being guarded by a player 6-4 or shorter.

Siakam had 25 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to lead six Pacers in double figures.

The home team has won all six games so far in this series, but the Pacers only need to buck that trend once to advance. Still, it will be a tall task in the rowdy environment of Madison Square Garden, especially for a young Pacers team with limited playoff experience.

Of the players on the roster, only Siakam and veteran center Myles Turner have received significant minutes in a Game 7 before. For All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton (as well as other rotational players Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, and Isaiah Jackson), this is his first playoffs.

“It’s the ultimate game," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. "This is a great opportunity…This team’s been through a lot of new experiences over the last three-and-a-half weeks and this will be another new one. We’ll do everything possible to get them ready, but in Game 7s it comes down to compete level and how well you’re tied together.”

One storyline to watch heading into Sunday is the health of Knicks forward Josh Hart, who was treated for abdominal soreness during Game 6 and ultimately removed from the game early in the fourth quarter.

Knicks: G - Jalen Brunson, G - Miles McBride, F - Donte DiVincenzo, F - Josh Hart, C - Isaiah Hartenstein

Knicks: OG Anunoby - questionable (left hamstring strain), Josh Hart - questionable (strained abdominal), Bojan Bogdanovic - out&nbsp;(left foot surgery), Julius Randle - out (right shoulder surgery), Mitchell Robinson - out (left ankle stress injury)

May 17, 2024: The Pacers used a 17-2 run in the second quarter to open a lead they never relinquished the rest of the way in a 116-103 victory over the Knicks on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 25 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. With the Knicks utilizing a small-ball starting lineup that essentially features four guards, the Blue & Gold worked the offense through their 6-8 swingman.

Five other Pacers finished in double figures, including Myles Turner (17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, eight rebounds, and two blocks), Tyrese Haliburton (15 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and two blocks), and Andrew Nembhard (15 points, six boards, and six assists).

Jalen Brunson scored 26 of his game-high 31 points after halftime to lead New York in the loss. Miles McBride added 20 points, going 8-for-12 from the field and 4-for-6 from 3-point range, while Donte DiVincenzo scored 17.

To register for presale access for future playoff rounds or to guarantee playoff seats by placing a deposit on a 2024-25 season ticket package, please visit Pacers.com/Playoffs. 

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Game Preview: Pacers at Knicks (Game 7)

Friday, May 17 at 8:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The Pacers know what they have to do Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They must win Game 6 against the Knicks to extend their season and force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday in New York, where the winner would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Indiana is facing elimination for the first time this postseason after dropping Game 5 on Tuesday night in New York, 121-91. The Knicks ran away from the Pacers at Madison Square Garden, outhustling and outplaying the Blue & Gold. Head coach Rick Carlisle said his young team learned "a hard lesson" from Tuesday's performance.

The Knicks had 29 more shot attempts than Indiana thanks to their dominance on the boards in Game 5. New York outrebounded the Pacers 53-29 overall and 20-5 on the offensive glass, outscoring Indiana 62-36 in points in the paint and 26-9 in second-chance points. Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein had 12 offensive rebounds alone.

Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson had another impressive performance, scoring 44 points and dishing out seven assists, but the Pacers aided New York's offense by committing 18 turnovers (and only forcing nine).

The good news for the Pacers is that the series is shifting back to Indianapolis, where the Blue & Gold are undefeated in the playoffs and beat the Knicks twice last season. In fact, Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday was pretty much a mirror image of Game 5, as the Pacers led 34-14 after the first quarter and stretched the margin as high as 43 points in a 121-89 victory.

RELATED: Pacers Vow to Be More Aggressive on Both Ends Facing Elimination in Game 6 >>

After the two teams traded blowout victories, it would not be surprising if Game 6 is more tightly contested like the first three games of the series. The Knicks are trying to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, while the Pacers are hoping to extend their season and have a chance to move on to the third round for the first time in a decade.

The Knicks made some counters in Game 5, as head coach Tom Thibodeau elected to start 6-1 guard Miles McBride instead of 6-8 forward Precious Achiuwa. The smaller McBride took on the primary assignment of guarding Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, picking him up full court for most of the night. Haliburton finished with 13 points and five assists on nine shot attempts, his lowest scoring total since he tallied just six points in Game 1.

Haliburton responded well after Game 1, averaging 29.7 points over his next three games. The 24-year-old — who is playing in his first playoffs — vowed to be better in Game 6.

All season long, the Pacers have played some of their best basketball coming off a disappointing result. How Haliburton and his teammates respond to adversity this time will determine whether or not their season will continue.

Knicks: OG Anunoby - out (left hamstring strain), Bojan Bogdanovic - out&nbsp;(left foot surgery), Julius Randle - out (right shoulder surgery), Mitchell Robinson - out (left ankle stress injury)

May 14, 2024: The Knicks won every quarter en route to a 121-91 win in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Brunson scored a series-high 44 points on 18-of-35 shooting and dished out seven assists to lead the Knicks to victory. Josh Hart added 18 points and 11 rebounds, Alec Burks scored 18 off the bench, and Miles McBride scored 17 points.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 22 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Myles Turner added 16 points while going 4-for-7 from 3-point range.

TV: ESPN - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), JJ Redick (analyst), Cassidy Hubbarth (sideline reporter)

The Pacers will host the Knicks for Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, May 17 at 8:30 PM ET.&nbsp;Find Tickets >>

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Knicks (Game 6)

Jordan Morey

Tuesday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET at Madison Square Garden

The Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks has morphed into a best-of-three games series.

Sixth-seeded Indiana will get another crack at taking a game at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday after the Blue & Gold evened their playoff series with the No. 2 New York Knicks, 2-2, over the weekend in Indianapolis.

Indiana enters Game 5 with their most convincing victory over the Knicks yet: a&nbsp;121-89 thrashing at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.

After leading by 20 points at the end of the first quarter of Game 4, the Pacers never let off the gas. At halftime,&nbsp;Indiana held a 69-51 advantage before the lead ballooned to 43 points in the second half.&nbsp;

Both sides emptied their benches in the fourth quarter, treating the final frame as a mere formality.

The 32-point win was just two points away from tying the&nbsp;largest&nbsp;margin of victory in a Pacers playoff win ever, and the biggest win by the Blue & Gold in the 2024 postseason.

The Pacers shot 56.8 percent as a team overall (45.2 percent from 3-point range) in Game 4 and held the Knicks to 33.7 percent from the field, including 7-for-37 from deep.

Six Pacers finished in double-digit scoring, led by 20 points from Tyrese Haliburton in 28 minutes and 15 points by T.J. McConnell off the bench. McConnell also dished out&nbsp;10&nbsp;assists to record his second postseason double-double ever.

Haliburton’s&nbsp;dominant play has proven vital to the&nbsp;Pacers'&nbsp;recent success. After a rough Game 1, where he only scored six points on as many shot attempts, Haliburton has averaged 29.7 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds over his last three games.

Indiana’s team&nbsp;defense made headlines in Game 4, especially for limiting Knicks volume scorer Jalen Brunson to 18 points on 6-for-17 shooting. No other Knicks player in the starting lineup recorded more than eight points in the game, and Alec Burks posted 20 points off the bench, while Miles McBride had 16 points in 32 minutes.

Brunson, who has carried the&nbsp;Knicks’&nbsp;offensive load all season, has seen his scoring numbers decrease each time out since logging 43 points in Game 1. His 18 points on Sunday were a playoff low for him.

Like every other game in the series thus far, both teams will keep an eye on the injury report leading up to the tip of Game 5.

The Knicks could be without ex-Indiana University Hoosier OG Anunoby for a third straight game on Tuesday, as he continues recovering from a calf injury sustained during Game 2. When Anunoby plays, the Knicks are 26-5 this season, including 2-0 against&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pacers in the playoffs.

RELATED: Pacers Not Getting Too High Despite Complete Performance in Game 4 >>

If the Pacers can win Game 5 at MSG, they will feel like they're in prime position to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 1999 season.&nbsp;

Game 6 will occur in Indianapolis on Friday, and the&nbsp;Pacers are 5-0 at home in the playoffs. Indiana also&nbsp;hasn't&nbsp;lost at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since March 18.

New York has lost just one game at home in the playoffs thus far: Game 5 in overtime against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 30.

Knicks: G - Jalen Brunson, G - Donte DiVincenzo, F - Josh Hart, F - Precious Achiuwa, C - Isaiah Hartenstein

Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton - questionable (lower back spasms/sacral contusion/right ankle sprain), Bennedict Mathurin - out (right shoulder labral tear)

Knicks: OG Anunoby - out (left hamstring strain), Bojan Bogdanovic - out&nbsp; (left foot surgery), Julius Randle - out (right shoulder surgery), Mitchell Robinson - out (left ankle stress injury)

May 12, 2024: Unlike the first three games in the series, the Pacers led from nearly start to finish in a 121-89 blowout win over the Knicks in Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With the win, the Pacers stayed undefeated (5-0) at home in the playoffs.

The Pacers scored at least 32 points in&nbsp;each of&nbsp;the first three quarters to start the game, including leading 34-14 after the first frame.&nbsp;

Indiana’s&nbsp;lead swelled to 28 points at halftime before exploding to 43 in the second half. Both teams played their bench units for almost the entire fourth quarter.

The Pacers shot an outstanding 56.8 percent from the field while limiting the Knicks to 33.7 percent. The Pacers finished 14-for-31 from 3-point range, while the Knicks made just 7 of 37 attempts.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 20 points, T.J. McConnell had 15 points and&nbsp;10&nbsp;assists, and Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin&nbsp;each&nbsp;chipped in 14 point for the Blue & Gold.

Jalen Brunson scored 18 points in 31 minutes and Alec Burks scored 20 points off the bench for the visitors. Brunson was the only Knicks starter to hit double digits for points on the night.&nbsp;

The Pacers won the rebounding margin 52-43, had 31 assists as a team and outscored the Knicks 60-40 in the paint.&nbsp;

TV: TNT - Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Stan Van Gundy (analyst), Chris Haynes (sideline reporter)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

The Pacers will host the Knicks for Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, May 17. The time for Game 6 is TBD.&nbsp;Find Tickets >>

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Game Preview: Pacers at Knicks (Game 5)

Sunday, May 12 at 3:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

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Game Recap: Pacers 121, Knicks 89

The first three games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Pacers and the Knicks were full of drama and intrigue, with the two rivals exchanging runs throughout each night and each contest coming down to the final minute.

Game 4 on Sunday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse was a vastly different story, though Pacers fans likely won't have any complaint about the end result.

The Pacers dominated New York from start to finish on Sunday. They led by 23 barely 10 minutes into Game 4, pushed the lead to 30 before halftime, and stretched the margin as high as 43 points in the second half, ultimately cruising to a 121-89 victory.

With the win, the Pacers evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2. Both teams held serve on their respective home courts this week, with the Knicks taking Games 1 and 2 at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Wednesday before the Pacers responded with wins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday and Sunday.

The series will shift to New York once again for Game 5 on Tuesday night.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Follow Indiana's Postseason Run at Pacers.com/Playoffs >>

All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton led six Pacers in double figures in the victory, tallying 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 27 minutes, going 8-for-15 from the field and 4-for-10 from 3-point range. Backup T.J. McConnell was just as good off the bench, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists in 21 minutes.

As a team, Indiana shot 56.8 percent from the field and went 14-for-31 (45.2 percent) from 3-point range. On the other end, they limited New York to just 33.7 percent shooting and just 7-for-37 (18.9 percent) from beyond the arc.

"We just handled business from start to finish and I think that’s part of the maturation of this group that we’ve talked about all year," Haliburton said. "Now we have to truthfully flush that one. Obviously watch film tomorrow, but take the good with the good, learn from the bad and be ready to go for Game 5 because that’s a big game."

The Pacers got off to a fast start from the jump on Sunday, as Haliburton knocked down his first two 3-point attempts and got a breakaway dunk to propel Indiana to a 14-4 lead.

The margin continued to grow from there as Myles Turner threw in a high-arcing three to beat the shot clock then scored on the next possession on a putback layup.

McConnell got into the paint the next two times down the floor, converting two layups, one of them a three-point play. He set up Obi Toppin for a jumper on the Pacers' next possession before Ben Sheppard and Toppin knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers.

The building was buzzing by that point, but the noise reached an even higher decibel after McConnell connected with Toppin for an alley-oop dunk that pushed Indiana's lead to 34-11 with 1:34 remaining in the opening frame.

It was 34-14 at the end of the first quarter, as the Pacers went 14-for-23 (60.9 percent from the field) and 5-for-12 (41.7 percent) from 3-point range, while the Knicks were just 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) and 1-for-8 (12.5 percent) from beyond the arc.

Pascal Siakam scored six points early in the second quarter to helped the Blue & Gold continue to grow the lead, then drove and kicked back to a wide-open McConnell, who swished a three from the top of the arc that put Indiana up 47-19 with 8:06 to play in the first half.

The Knicks reeled off six straight points from there, but that would be the closest they would get the remainder of the half, as the Pacers kept their feet on the gas. Haliburton scored Indiana's last five points of the half, including a step-back three that pushed the lead to 30 for the first time before Alec Burks hit two free throws in the final second that made it a 28-point margin at the break.

The Pacers weren't content to sit on that lead in the second half, instead coming out of the locker room intent on thwarting any Knicks hope for a comeback.

The Blue & Gold scored the first four points of the third quarter to push the lead to 32 points and threes later in the frame from Haliburton, Turner, and McConnell stretched the margin to 35, 36, and then 37 points.

McConnell and Toppin got the crowd on its feet once again with a little over three minutes to go in the third quarter, connecting on another alley-oop, with Toppin finishing this one with a two-hand reverse slam.

Aaron Nesmith's jumper with 22.4 seconds to play in the quarter pushed the lead to 38 at 101-63.

2023‑24 Game Preview