INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals after clinching their first playoff series in 10 years.
The Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in six games, while the Knicks ousted the Philadelphia 76ers, also in a series that went six games.
The second round series is scheduled to begin Monday, May 6 in New York, with two games in Madison Square Garden before shifting to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Games 3 and 4 of the series. If necessary, the series will alternate between cities until it is decided.
Game 1: Monday, May 6 - 7:30 p.m. at New York (TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday, May 8 - 8 pm. at New York (TNT)
Game 3: Friday, May 10 - 7 p.m. at Indiana (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday, May 12 - 3:30 p.m. at Indiana (ABC)
Game 5: TBA at New York*
Game 6: TBA at Indiana*
Game 7: TBA at New York*
*-if necessary
The fieldhouse is booked for a concert by NF on Saturday, May 11, but May 8 and May 9 are both available.
Season series
The Knicks finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference at 50-32, but lost two of three to the Pacers (47-35) during the season.
Tyrese Haliburton tied a Pacers team record with 23 assists in a 14-point win over the Knicks on Dec. 30 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He also became just the third player in NBA history to record consecutive games with 20 points and 20 assists, joining Magic Johnson and John Stockton.
“I didn’t know 23 was the franchise record or otherwise I would have hunted to get 24,” Haliburton said with a laugh after the game. “Any time your name is brought up with legends of the game, it’s awesome.”
The Knicks evened the season series behind 40 points from Jalen Brunson on Feb. 1, earning chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the fans at Madison Square Garden.
New York rallied from a double-digit deficit in the third quarter to win their ninth game in a row.
Back in the Big Apple, the Pacers claimed the season series behind 23 points from Myles Turner and 22 from Haliburton.
The Pacers shot 61% from the field, including more than 48% from behind the arc in the win.
Brunson scored 39 in the loss for New York.