The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are set to face off for the first time since their heated clash in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals. But don’t expect a rematch of that playoff war - both teams are walking into this one with very different rosters, very different momentum, and very different stakes.
Knicks Riding High, But Banged Up
New York is fresh off a run to the NBA Cup championship game, where they knocked off the Spurs in a physical battle that may have left more than just bruises. The Knicks, sitting at 18-7, have been one of the more consistent teams in the East this season, but they’ll head into Thursday night’s matchup in Indianapolis with a crowded injury report that could test their depth.
Two guards are already ruled out: Miles McBride (sprained left ankle) and Landry Shamet (right shoulder sprain). McBride hasn’t suited up since December 7, and Shamet has now missed nearly a month. Their absences thin out the Knicks’ backcourt rotation, putting more pressure on the remaining guards to carry the load.
But the bigger concern lies with four other names listed as questionable - and they’re not role players.
Karl-Anthony Towns is nursing left knee soreness after coming up gingerly late in Tuesday’s win. He didn’t play the opening seven minutes of the fourth quarter and was seen favoring the leg on the bench.
Towns has been a cornerstone for New York this season, averaging 22.4 points and 11.9 boards per game while spacing the floor with 36% shooting from deep. If he can’t go, that’s a massive hole in the Knicks’ offensive engine and rebounding presence.
OG Anunoby is also questionable with a left knee contusion. He was sensational in the Cup final, dropping a game-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, along with nine rebounds, three assists, and a block. He’s been a two-way force for the Knicks, and his availability could swing the defensive matchup against a Pacers team still trying to find its rhythm.
Josh Hart (abdominal strain) and Mitchell Robinson (injury management) round out the list. Robinson has been on a carefully managed schedule all season as he continues to recover from a left ankle injury. With a tough back-to-back looming, don’t be surprised if the Knicks err on the side of caution with both.
Pacers Still Searching for Stability
Indiana’s season has been defined by injuries - and not the kind you bounce back from quickly.
The Pacers enter Thursday’s contest at 6-20, a far cry from the squad that knocked the Knicks out of the playoffs last spring. They’ll be without Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, and Obi Toppin - three players who were integral to their identity during last year’s run.
Haliburton, the team’s engine, is still recovering from Achilles surgery after tearing it in Game 7 of the Finals. He hasn’t played a single game this season, and his absence has left a massive void in the Pacers’ offense. Without him, Indiana has struggled to generate consistent looks and push the pace - a hallmark of their style under head coach Rick Carlisle.
Nesmith is out with a sprained MCL in his left knee, and Toppin continues to rehab a stress fracture in his right foot. The Pacers have been forced to lean heavily on Pascal Siakam, who’s doing everything he can to keep Indiana competitive. Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, and while those numbers are strong, they haven’t translated into wins.
Simply put, this isn’t the same Indiana team that made noise last spring. The injuries have gutted their depth, and their record reflects it - just one game ahead of the Wizards for the league’s worst mark.
A Different Kind of Matchup
Last May, this was a heavyweight bout. The Pacers stunned the Knicks in six games, with Siakam earning Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors and Indiana punching its ticket to the Finals for the first time since 2000. The energy was electric, the stakes were sky-high, and the basketball was elite.
Now? It’s a different story.
The Knicks are second in the East, just 2.5 games behind the Pistons, while the Pacers are trying to stay afloat. But that doesn’t mean this game doesn’t matter.
For New York, it’s a chance to keep pace in a tight conference race - and maybe exact a little revenge, even if the faces have changed. For Indiana, it’s about pride, development, and finding something to build on in a season that’s been derailed early.
Looking Ahead
This is just the beginning of a brutal stretch for the Knicks. After Thursday night in Indy, they head back home for a Friday showdown with the 76ers, then host the Heat on Sunday. Three games in four nights, with a banged-up roster, is going to test head coach Mike Brown’s ability to manage minutes and rotations.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. And while the stakes might not be the same as last May, there’s still plenty to watch - especially if the Knicks’ injury questions linger into the weekend.