Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden
Game Preview
The Indiana Pacers will open the second half of their 2022-2023 season schedule against one of their biggest rivals on the road.
On Wednesday, the Pacers (23-18), winners of six of their last seven games and eight of 10, will take on the New York Knicks (22-19) at Madison Square Garden.
The matchup will be the second of four between the two teams this season, with the Knicks currently leading the series 1-0 after beating the Pacers 109-106 on Dec. 18 in Indianapolis.
Indiana enters the game riding back-to-back wins over the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets.
Over the last seven games, the Pacers are averaging a league-high 123.9 points while shooting 49.2 percent as a team from the field.
In the 116-111 win over the Hornets on Sunday, Pacers center Myles Turner scored 29 points to go along with nine rebounds and four blocks, shooting guard Buddy Hield added 21 points and rookie Andrew Nembhard chipped in 19. Blue & Gold point guard Tyrese Haliburton also finished with 16 points and 13 assists in the game to achieve his 22nd double-double of the season.
Haliburton, Hield and Turner have consistently put up big numbers over the last 10 games.
During the stretch, Hield is averaging 18.7 points per game and 5.4 rebounds on 53.6 percent shooting from 3-point range; Haliburton is putting up 22.7 points on 50.6 percent shooting (44.6 percent 3-point), with 9.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds; and Turner is scoring 17.3 points on 57.5 percent shooting, while pulling down 8.0 rebounds and swatting 2.5 blocks per game.
Hield continues to lead all players in 3-pointers made with 158 while Haliburton is first in assists per game (10.3) and third in steals per game (1.8). Turner currently ranks third in blocks per game (2.3) among all NBA players.
The Knicks enter the game coming off a 111-107 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, which snapped a four-game winning streak.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson had a career night in the loss, scoring 44 points, while forward Julius Randle had 25 points and 15 rebounds.
On the season, New York ranks third in rebounds per game (47.2) and are leading the league in second-chance points per game at 17.6. Of all teams, the Knicks rank fourth in defensive rating (104.0) as well.
The Knicks may be without a key player against the Pacers, as RJ Barrett, a starting guard who is averaging 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists this season, hasn’t played since Dec. 27 due to a finger laceration.
Randle leads the Knicks in scoring (24.4) and rebounds (10.0) this season while Brunson – who signed with New York after playing four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks – is averaging 20.9 points, 6.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Aaron Nesmith, C - Myles Turner
Knicks: G - Jalen Brunson, G - Immanuel Quickley, G - Quentin Grimes, F - Julius Randle, C - Mitchell Robinson
Injury Report
Pacers: T.J. McConnell - questionable (sore right shoulder), Aaron Nesmith - questionable (non-COVID illness), Kendall Brown - out (right tibia stress reaction), Daniel Theis - out (right knee surgery)
Knicks: RJ Barrett - questionable (lacerated right index finger)
Last Meeting
Dec. 18, 2022: Randle made all six of his free throw attempts in the final 45 seconds as the Knicks edged the Pacers 109-106 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Brunson scored a game-high 30 points as the Knicks won a seventh straight game. Randle finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds and Barrett scored 24 points.
Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith set new career-highs for points (23) and rebounds (10) in the game while Hield scored 23 points and Haliburton had 15 points and 10 assists.
The Knicks led 54-53 at half and 85-84 at the end of the third quarter before coming up clutch down the stretch.
Indiana’s bench had a big game, outsourcing the Knicks’ reserves 35-14.
Overall, the Pacers shot 43.3 percent from the field while the Knicks shot 47.0 percent.
Noteworthy
- Indiana enters the game in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and the Knicks are seventh.
- The Knicks are 97-92 all-time against the Pacers, including 63-34 at home.
- 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose and guard Evan Fournier both didn’t play in the last game against the Pacers, but will be available on Wednesday.
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle coached Brunson in Dallas for three seasons (2018-2021).
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Jan. 13 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>