The long-standing playoff rivalry between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers is set to resume in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. Both teams are aiming to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in over twenty years. The Knicks, seeded third, secured their spot by defeating the defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round. The fourth-seeded Pacers advanced after overcoming the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games. This marks the second consecutive year these two teams meet in the playoffs, with Indiana winning their previous second-round series in seven games.
Jalen Brunson has emerged as a standout performer in these playoffs, guiding the Knicks to their first conference finals appearance since 2000, where they were eliminated by the Pacers. The Pacers, whose current team features Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and a strong supporting cast, haven`t reached the Finals since that time. The Knicks` last Eastern Conference title was in 1999, also against the Pacers.
Expert Predictions for the Series
As anticipation builds for the series, here are the predictions from CBS Sports NBA experts on which team will advance to the NBA Finals:
The majority of experts predict the Indiana Pacers will win the series (4 out of 6). Brad Botkin, James Herbert, Jack Maloney, and Colin Ward-Henninger all picked the Pacers, citing their pace, depth, offensive efficiency, and ability to exploit matchups as key factors that will wear down the shorter-handed Knicks over a long series. Botkin and Maloney specifically mentioned perceived luck in New York`s previous series. James Herbert highlighted the Pacers` improved state and consistency. Colin Ward-Henninger anticipates a tough, long series potentially ending with the Pacers winning Game 7 on the road.
Conversely, Sam Quinn and Jasmyn Wimbish, however, favor the New York Knicks. Quinn sees Jalen Brunson`s star power, home-court advantage, and clutch performance as decisive in a close 7-game series, noting the Pacers` difficulty in containing Brunson. Wimbish also picks the Knicks in six games, pointing to New York`s physicality as a key factor against Indiana, while agreeing that Brunson`s clutch play will be crucial in close contests, despite acknowledging the challenge posed by the Pacers` high tempo.
Jasper Hawthorne