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Game Preview: Pacers vs Knicks

Last Updated: Jan. 22 at 1:00 AM ET

Matchup

The Pacers headed west in hopes of establishing a presence on the road, and, after a dramatic comeback win against Sacramento, it seemed like Indiana might've found a spark.

But following their win over the Kings, the Pacers dropped both games of a back-to-back, including falling to the Lakers, who had lost their previous five games entering the matchup.

Now, the Pacers (22-21) look to get back on track in front of their home crowd in a primetime meeting with the New York Knicks (19-26), who have lost seven of their last nine games.

The home-road differential for the Pacers has been one of the year's dominant plot lines, with Indiana piling up an impressive 16-5 record at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, while sporting a 6-16 record away from home.

Following the trying losses, members of the Pacers try to single out the cause of the Jekyll and Hyde performances.

"I think one of the biggest things right now is energy. We have to start off games like we start off at home," said Thaddeus Young following Indiana's loss to Utah. "We start off with a lot of energy at home, get ourselves a big lead and we are able to sustain throughout the course of games. For some reason in the second half we tend to pick it up and get ourselves back into the game, but it is just too hard. You make that type of run and get yourself back into the game, you’re tiring yourself out and those guys go on another run."

When breaking down the splits between home and road performances, the biggest differences are in rebounding and field goal attempts, two statistical items that are connected to one another.

At home, the Pacers average 44 rebounds per game; on the road, it drops to 39.9. When it comes to field goal attempts, Indiana takes four more attempts per game at home. The extra possessions, paired with a higher field goal percentage, gives the Pacers more margin for error on their home floor.

And luckily for Indiana, three of its next four games are at home, giving it a chance to fix issues that have led to a dip during an otherwise impressive stretch of basketball.

With the Eastern Conference standings still packed with teams of similar records, every game gives the Pacers a chance to ascend the leaderboard as they work to correct their road woes.

Projected Starters

Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague

Glenn Robinson III

Glenn Robinson III

Paul George

Paul George

Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young

Myles Turner

Myles Turner

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose

Courtney Lee

Courtney Lee

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony

Kristaps Porzingis

Kristaps Porzingis

Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Glenn Robinson III, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Knicks: PG - Derrick Rose, SG - Courtney Lee, SF - Carmelo Anthony, PF - Kristaps Porzingis, C - Joakim Noah

Injury Report

Pacers: Rodney Stuckey - out (left hamstring strain)

Knicks: Lance Thomas - out (left orbital fracture)

Last Meeting

January 7, 2017: With the help of a decisive 18-4 run in the first half, the Pacers easily put away the Knicks 123-109 to give the home crowd a victory during Indiana's 1980s Decade Game.

"We're just moving the ball," C.J. Miles said. "We're getting stops and moving with a great pace, a great tempo. But the biggest thing is the ball movement and not really stopping."

Paul George and Jeff Teague each scored 19 points while Myles Turner completed his second consecutive double-double performance,

The Knicks — who were playing on the second night of a back-to-back — were never able to meaningfully threaten the lead once the Pacers built their early advantage. Brandon Jennings posted an impressive 17-point fourth quarter to attempt a late comeback, but the Pacers' lead was never in real danger.

Noteworthy

  • The New York Knicks lead the all-time series with the Pacers, 88-81.
  • The Pacers have won eight of the last nine meetings between the two teams.
  • Like Jeff Teague, Knicks guard Courtney Lee attended Pike High School in Indianapolis.

Tickets

The Pacers return home following their Western Conference swing on Monday, Jan. 23 for a primetime matchup with the New York Knicks. Tipoff is slated for 8:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: TNT - Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Home Court Gift Shop Game Night Special

Select T-Shirts - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.

Construction Note: The Delaware St. entrance to the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage is no longer in operation due to the construction of the St. Vincent Center. To enter the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage, please use the entrance located at the intersection of E Maryland St. and S Alabama St.

In addition, the southbound lane of Delaware Street from Maryland to just south of the train bridge will be closed for the duration of the construction project.