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INDIANAPOLIS – Coaching icons John Wooden and Tony Hinkle, the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and its home city of New Castle, and the 2018 IHSAA boys and girls state championship teams will be the 2017-18 Indiana Pacers Hickory Night honorees, the Pacers announced today.

The Pacers also will wear new white Hickory jerseys on the Hickory Nights at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, as well as during road games against the Los Angeles Lakers (Jan. 19), Boston (March 11), Philadelphia (March 13) and the Los Angeles Clippers (April 1). The white Hickory uniform, the Nike Classic Edition, is a modern take on the white uniforms of Hickory High as worn in the 1987 cinematic classic Hoosiers. This is the fourth new uniform unveiled by the Pacers for the 2017-18 season.

PHOTO GALLERY: See the Hickory Uniforms Up Close »

This will be the third season of Hickory Nights recognizing legendary Indiana teams, coaches, players and cities while commemorating Hoosiers. Previous honorees have included Crawfordsville, the birthplace of Indiana basketball; Indiana high school's all-time leading boys scorer Damon Bailey; Indiana’s first Miss Basketball Judi Warren and state championship teams from Marion, Indianapolis Crispus Attucks, Indianapolis Washington and Milan, whose 1954 state title inspired the film.

PACERS.COM/HICKORY: More Info on Hickory, Tickets, Etc. »

Dates for this year's Hickory Nights and the honorees are:

Friday, Nov. 17, Pacers vs. Detroit: The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the City of New Castle. As home to the Hall of Fame and Chrysler Fieldhouse, the world's largest high school gymnasium (capacity 9,325), and the annual holiday Hall of Fame Classic, New Castle occupies a special place in Hoosier basketball history. New Castle also produced basketball All-Americans Vern Huffman, Kent Benson and Steve Alford, currently the head coach at UCLA.

Monday, Jan. 8, Pacers vs. Milwaukee: John Wooden. Wooden first excelled as a player at Martinsville High School and Purdue University, where he was a three-time All-American. His coaching career began in South Bend, moved to Indiana State University and then to ULCA, where the "Wizard of Westwood" guided the Bruins to 10 NCAA national championships in 12 years. His Pyramid of Success is a staple for both basketball and life.

Sunday, Feb. 11, Pacers vs. New York: Paul D. "Tony" Hinkle. A native of Logansport, the revered Hinkle, a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, coached basketball, football and baseball at Butler for nearly a half century while also serving as athletic director. The Hinkle "coaching tree" of former players and assistants remains a presence throughout Indiana and Butler's iconic fieldhouse is named in his honor.

Tuesday, April 10, Pacers vs. Charlotte: IHSAA State Champions. The Pacers' regular season-ending game will include the recognition of the four girls and four boys IHSAA State Champions, continuing a Hickory Nights tradition.

"We are excited to continue with Hickory Pacers Nights for the 2017-18 season. The platform allows us to recognize the people and places that have made the game of basketball synonymous with the state of Indiana," said Todd Taylor, chief marketing officer for Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

Fans can learn more about Hickory Nights, the new Nike uniforms and also secure tickets to Hickory Nights and all other Pacers homes games at Pacers.com/Hickory.

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Pacers Announce Hickory Honorees, Unveil New Uniforms

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On April 15, 2015, the Pacers lost the their last game of the season after winning six straight in a mad-dash effort to make the postseason. The loss to Memphis eliminated the Pacers from making the playoffs for the first time in five seasons under head coach Frank Vogel and sent the Pacers into the offseason with a disappointing ending.

The missed playoff trip sent the Pacers to the draft lottery, where they selected Myles Turner. And in a game against the Nets on Sunday night — the same team whose tiebreaker advantage kept the Pacers out of the playoffs last season — the Pacers proved their one-year playoff absence was just an outlier, destroying the Nets 129-105 and clinching a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference for the fifth time in the last six years. And Turner, the consolation prize for a trying season the year before, played a key role in the win, scoring 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

"The first and second unit came out and played with great energy tonight," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. "All year we felt we had a team that could do damage in the playoffs. It was about getting it done to get there."

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Get VIP Access to Playoff Tickets »

The Hickory night victory, even against a team as decimated by injuries as the Nets, is big news for Indiana, who dropped their last game to the Raptors despite Toronto resting four of its six top players.

Additionally, the win knocks the division-rival Bulls out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season. The only question that remains for the Pacers is whether they'll end up as the eighth or seventh seed in the postseason. But after the Pacers handed the Nets a whopping 24-point loss, it's possible head coach Frank Vogel will look to rest key players like Paul George — who has been bothered by a sore left ankle — over the final two games.

In the first half, the Pacers got hot quick and didn't let up, breaking out to a 28-point lead at halftime.

From early on in the first quarter, it was clear that the Pacers had an edge on the Nets, who were resting Brook Lopez, their best offensive player. After going on a 14-3 run in the first six minutes, the Pacers ended the first quarter leading 39-19, their season-high for the opening quarter.

FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME: 4/12 vs Knicks »

In the second quarter, Turner came off the bench and quickly piled up stats against the smaller Nets frontline, scoring 12 points and snaring seven rebounds in just 11 minutes of action.

The play from the Pacers' second unit, coupled with an explosive start to the game, led to their sizable 69-41 lead to start the second half.

"It was a big point of emphasis — the way we came out," George Hill explained after the win. "In Toronto, we didn't come out the way that was planned. We had to redeem ourselves and come out and take care of our own court. Coach challenged us. He said the starters didn't get off to a good start at Toronto. He wanted us to come out and set the tempo for the second unit. I think we did a great job of that today."

The third quarter was when the Pacers truly seized control of the game, starting the half on a 19-5 run and leading by as much as 42 points as the game turned into an offensive exhibition.

By the time the final frame began, the Pacers led 104-72, in cruise control en route to the 2016 Playoffs.

The lead allowed Indiana to give much-needed rest to PG and the rest of the starters, as the second unit and deeper bench players finished out the fourth quarter and kept Brooklyn at a safe distance.

When Indiana last reached the postseason, it fell to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. At that time, Turner was a senior in high school, C.J. Miles was on the Cavaliers, and David West and Roy Hibbert started for Indiana — point being, a lot has changed in two years.

"It feels good, feels good," said George of making the playoffs. "We're very proud about that, making it into the playoffs once more, especially with this group. I think it will be great to get Myles (Turner) some playoff experience. And really (that's the case) for all of us. This is a young group."

With 8:33 left in the third quarter, the Pacers led the Nets by a game-high 42 points.

Myles Turner's 28 points were the second most he's scored all season. He dropped 31 points in a loss to the Warriors on January 22.

Paul George did major damage in limited minutes. George scored 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting while collecting five rebounds and passing out six assists.

C.J. Miles stayed hot from beyond the arc, sinking 3-of-6 attempts from long range.

"Seeding is to be determined. Our intent is to play. We have to focus on what we do. We're not worried about anything except playing well the last two games." --Pacers head coach Frank Vogel

"This is not the way I wanted to play. I wish today we were prepared. They came out, jumped on us early. I didn't see a lot of fight with our starting group at the beginning of the game." --Nets head coach Tony Brown

"It feels great. I was out of the playoffs the last two years. Now my team is going to the playoffs and I'm excited." --Pacers guard Ty Lawson

"No matter what place we're in, that's what you play for. We're going to cherish this, try to rest up as much as possible, and figure out what we have to do next." --Pacers guard George Hill

The Pacers set their season high for team assists, passing out 34 dimes on the night. When the Pacers have 25 or more assists this season, they are 16-4.

Don't miss the Pacers' final regular season homegame against the Knicks on Tuesday night at 7 PM: Find Tickets »

Hickory Mini Basketball - $10. 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.

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Game Rewind: Pacers 129, Nets 105

Wheat Hotchkiss

Editor's Note: The Delaware St. entrance to the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage is longer in operation due to the construction of the St. Vincent Center. To enter the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage, please use to the entrance located at the intersection of E Maryland St. and S Alabama St. You will, however, still be able to exit the parking garage using the single-lane Delaware St. exit ramp.

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

The Pacers had a chance to lock up a playoff spot on Friday night in Toronto against a team that elected to rest four key players, including their two All-Star guards. But the Raptors' reserves took it to Indiana, putting the Pacers' playoff hopes on hold.

The Pacers (42-37) need to win just one of their final three games to clinch a playoff berth. But regardless of their playoff status, the Blue & Gold will want to put together a stronger overall performance on Sunday night when they host the Brooklyn Nets (21-58).

FINAL TWO REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES: 4/10 vs Nets »   4/12 vs Knicks »

The Pacers should make the playoffs, but they want to build some positive momentum heading into the postseason. That starts with putting together a better defensive performance against Brooklyn than they did against Toronto. The Pacers allowed the Raptors to shoot 45 percent from 3-point range and could not defend without fouling, sending Toronto to the free throw line 38 times in Friday's loss.

On paper, the Pacers should take care of business against Brooklyn. The Nets are owners of the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference and have elected to shut down their two best players (the frontcourt duo of Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, who combined to average over 35 points and 17 rebounds per game) for the remainder of the season.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Pacers' Playoff Push »

But the Pacers' struggles in Toronto show that they cannot afford to take anyone lightly, regardless of who is playing and who is in street clothes.

Despite their loss on Friday, the Pacers control their own destiny to claim the seventh seed in the East. They're tied with Detroit in the loss column and own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Pistons. If they want to avoid a first round matchup with the defending conference champion Cavs, they can do so simply by winning their final three regular season contests.

Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Lavoy Allen, C - Ian MahinmiNets: PG - Shane Larkin, SG - Wayne Ellington, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Chris McCullough, C - Jared Sullinger

Nets: Jarrett Jack - out (torn ACL, right knee), Brook Lopez - out (rest), Willie Reed - out (personal reasons), Thaddeus Young - out (rest)

March 26, 2016: The Nets outscored Indiana 35-17 in the fourth quarter to come away with a 120-110 win at the Barclays Center. Brook Lopez scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the final period to lead Brooklyn to victory.

The loss spoiled an excellent offensive performance by Indiana, who matched their season high at the time with 66 first-half points. Paul George led all scorers with 27 points in the loss. Ian Mahinmi added 18 and George Hill scored 17.

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV:FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
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.

The Pacers host the Brooklyn Nets in the final Hickory Night game of the year. At the game, we will honor the 2016 IHSAA boys and girls basketball state champion teams: Find Tickets »

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Nets

The Pacers opened a pivotal five-game homestand with a big victory, knocking off the Boston Celtics (39-28) on Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 103-98. The win was the fourth in their last five games for the Pacers (36-31), who continue to inch closer to a playoff berth.

It was fitting that the Pacers wore their Hickory uniforms on Tuesday, as this game had an old-school feel. Both teams put together excellent defensive performances, making their opponents work for each and every shot.

TICKETS: Only 10 Home Games Remaining in Regular Season »

The game was tightly contested throughout, with 12 ties and 15 lead changes over the first three and a half quarters. Boston led 77-76 with eight minutes to play, but the Blue & Gold scored the next six points to surge back in front, capped with a memorable sequence where Monta Ellis drove the lane and somehow wrapped a pass around the back of Celtics forward Amir Johnson to Jordan Hill, who finished with a thunderous one-handed dunk.

From there, the Pacers locked down Boston defensively and slowly put the game out of reach. Paul George buried a 3-pointer that pushed Indiana's lead to 10 with 2:13 to play, then he and Hill took turns dunking in the final two minutes, exclamation points on a big-time win over a Boston team that entered the night in third place in the Eastern Conference.

"I thought we just guarded," George said about the Pacers' closing effort. "We played great defense and that turned into some easy offense for us."

The Pacers got off to a slow start out of the gates. George picked up two quick fouls and Indiana amassed seven turnovers over the first 8:37, falling into an early seven-point hole.

But the Blue & Gold righted the ship from there. They reeled off an 11-0 run over the end of the first and beginning of the second quarters to surge in front and pushed their lead as high as 10 points.

They led by four at the half and withstood Celtics All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas dropping 16 points in the third quarter to take a 71-70 lead into the final period.

The Pacers defense stifled the Celtics all night, limiting Boston to a .383 overall field goal percentage and a .250 mark from 3-point range.

George, who scored just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting in a 29-point loss in Atlanta on Sunday, bounced back in a big way against Boston. The three-time All-Star led all scorers with 25 points and went 9-for-16 from the field while also tallying seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Hill provided a major boost off the bench, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter and finishing the night with 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting.

"I was doing pretty good defensively and on the offensive end," Hill said about his late-game play. "(Head coach Frank Vogel) allowed me to stay in and keep doing it."

Monta Ellis chipped in 16 points, seven boards, and six assists for Indiana. Ian Mahinmi added 13 points and six rebounds, while George Hill contributed 10 points and five boards.

Thomas led Boston with 18 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Jonas Jerebko added 17 points off the bench on 7-of-12 shooting. Jared Sullinger recorded a double-double, posting 15 points and 11 rebounds.

After beating Boston, the Pacers will now prepare to take on the team directly ahead of the Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings. Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors visit the Fieldhouse on Thursday, March 17 at 7:00 PM ET.

George scored 17 of his 25 points after halftime, while 13 of Ellis' 16 points came in the second half.

The Pacers committed just one turnover in the fourth quarter, a far cry from their loss in Boston on Jan. 13, when they had four costly turnovers in the final minutes that cost them a chance at a big road win.

Lavoy Allen had some big hustle plays for Indiana and finished the night with four points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Like he has many times this season, Allen had the best plus/minus of any Pacers player against the Celtics at +19.

The Pacers held their opponent under 40 percent shooting for the 15th time this season and improved to 13-2 when their opponent's field goal percentage is .399 or lower.

Indiana is now 27-5 on the year when holding their opponent under 100 points.

"He was the recipient of a lot of good Monta Ellis decisions. He's a great finisher and had a strong performance. I was about to sub for he and Lavoy (Allen), but Jordan made a play at the offensive end and Lavoy made a couple of defensive stops at the defensive end. They both made winning plays down the stretch." -Vogel on Jordan Hill

"We are right there and ready for a postseason run. I know I am watching the standings. We have a chance to move up." -George

"I was more focused and more comfortable in the second half. Tonight was a game of two halves for me. In the first half, I did not do a good job of getting to the basket and getting my shots. Thankfully in the second half I did a better job, made good adjustments." -Ellis

"Jordan Hill loves playing against the Celtics. He's had great games against us every time." -Celtics head coach Brad Stevens

"We got a lot of shots, we got a lot of opportunities but our shots just weren't falling. They were able to get the ball in some comfortable areas for their shots. It was just one of those games." -Celtics guard Marcus Smart

With Tuesday's victory, the Pacers won the regular season series with the Celtics, 3-1. Indiana is now three games back of Boston in the loss column and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Celtics if they can catch them by the season's end.

The Pacers welcome the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night at 7:00 PM. Find Tickets »

Hickory Hat - $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.

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Game Rewind: Pacers 103, Celtics 98

As we enter the stretch run of the 2015-16 regular season, the Pacers are in good position to make the playoffs and possibly make a move up the Eastern Conference standings. The Blue & Gold are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, but play 11 of their final 16 games within the friendly confines of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, including a five-game homestand that begins Tuesday.

The first three games of this homestand, however, are far from cakewalks. Indiana (35-31) welcomes three teams that are presently in third place or better in their respective conferences this week, beginning with the Boston Celtics (39-27) on Tuesday night.

TICKETS: Only 11 Home Games Remaining in Regular Season »

Boston is in third place in the East and has the inside track for homecourt advantage in a first round playoff series. The Celtics have no superstars but a host of capable NBA players, and former Butler head coach Brad Stevens seemingly gets the maximum level of production out of every player on his roster.

The Celtics are a challenge on both ends, playing at the third-fastest pace in the NBA, but also posting the league's third-best defensive rating (tied, actually, with the Pacers at 100.1 points allowed per 100 possessions). Boston ranks second in the league in steals (9.5 per game) — their aggressive defensive style almost single-handedly willed them to victory over Indiana on Jan. 13 in Boston.

The Celtics, however, were dealt a significant blow this weekend when it was announced that do-everything forward Jae Crowder will miss the next couple weeks with a high ankle sprain. Crowder is Boston's third-leading scorer and a defensive menace capable of playing any position from shooting guard to power forward. Without his versatility, Stevens is less likely to experiment with small-ball lineups, which may be good news for a Pacers team that has struggled to defend spread lineups in recent weeks.

The Pacers are not without their own injury concerns, as their backcourt players have suddenly stockpiled a plethora of bumps and bruises. Newly-signed point guard Ty Lawson missed a pair of games over the weekend with a sprained left foot, sixth man Rodney Stuckey hurt his right foot in Sunday's loss to the Hawks, and starting point guard George Hill is dealing with a sore right toe.

Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Myles Turner, C - Ian MahinmiCeltics: PG - Isaiah Thomas, SG - Avery Bradley, SF - Evan Turner, PF - Amir Johnson, C - Jared Sullinger

Pacers: Ty Lawson - questionable (sore left foot), George Hill - probable (sore right toe), C.J. Miles - questionable - (upper respiratory infection)

Celtics: Kelly Olynyk - questionable (right shoulder sprain), Jae Crowder - out (right ankle sprain)

January 13, 2016: The Pacers led by three with three minutes to play in Boston, but then committed four turnovers down the stretch, all of which led to fastbreak buckets on the other end in a 103-94 loss at TD Garden.

"That's unrecoverable," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said about the late-game miscues. "That was the game."

Paul George led five Pacers players in double figures with 23 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the loss, but he also had five of Indiana's 17 turnovers (Monta Ellis also had five giveaways).

Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 28 points. Jae Crowder added 25 on 11-of-15 shooting (3-for-6 from 3-point range).

TV:FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
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.

The Pacers host Brad Stevens and the surging Boston Celtics at 7:00 PM on Tuesday: Find Tickets »

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Celtics

It might have been a little closer than expected, but Paul George came alive in the second half to lead the Pacers (31-26) to a 108-105 win over the New York Knicks (24-35) on Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in the team's first home game since the All-Star break.

George scored all but two of his game-high 27 points in the final two quarters to lead Indiana, wearing their special Hickory uniforms, to their third win in their last four games.

"I just imposed my will," George said of his second-half performance. "I got to my sweet spot, which is in the paint pull-ups. Those are confidence boosters when I start in close and work my way out."

HICKORY HONOREE: Crispus Attucks Honored at Halftime »

The Pacers trailed by two at the half, but opened the second half strong.

Thanks in large part to the contributions of All-Star George and rookie phenom Myles Turner, Indiana reeled off a 12-2 run (with George and Turner combining for 10 points) to open up the third quarter. The Blue & Gold stretched that lead to as many as 11 points and appeared to be starting to put away a slumping Knicks team that had dropped 12 of its last 14 contests entering Wednesday.

But New York answered with a 13-2 run of their own, re-taking the lead with 1:02 left in the third period. The two teams headed into the fourth quarter tied at 80, but the Knicks moved back in front on Langston Galloway's 3-pointer on the quarter's opening possession.

New York maintained the advantage for over half the quarter before a jumper by Paul George, the last of eight straight Pacers points from the three-time All-Star, gave Indiana a 94-93 lead with 5:38 to play.

The lead was short-lived, as Kristaps Porzingis made a jumper of his own 16 seconds later to put New York back in front.

Eventually, however, the Pacers took the lead for good when Turner and George took turns swishing jumpers on back-to-back possessions to give Indiana a three-point lead with two and a half minutes left. They led by as many as six, though the Knicks made it a 107-105 game on Carmelo Anthony's layup with 29.6 seconds left, then got the ball back when Anthony rebounded Monta Ellis' missed baseline jumper, giving New York a chance to tie or win the game.

Porzingis got a wide-open look at a three from the top of the key, but missed long on his shot, as Turner corralled the board and knocked down one of two free throws with 1.9 seconds left.

Anthony's corner three on the other end missed long, as Pacers fans shared a collective sigh of relief.

"These last four games have been a test for us," Turner said. "So the fact that we’re coming out pretty successful, minus (Monday's overtime loss in Miami), in these late game situations is only good for us. Because that’s what the playoffs are going to be like."

All eyes were on the two rookie power forwards playing starring roles for their respective teams and both young players delivered in the first half. Turner, the Pacers' 19-year-old rookie, got the slight upper hand in their first battle, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting and six rebounds.

Porzingis, the 20-year-old Knicks forward, was nearly as good. The 7-foot-3 Latvian led New York with 22 points, going 7-for-14 from the field.

"It was great," George said about the matchup between the two rookies. "They're going to go at it for many years. These two kids are really, really, really good."

Besides George and Turner, George Hill was the only other Pacers player to reach double figures, finishing with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Jose Calderon had 20 points for New York, Kyle O'Quinn chipped in 19 off the bench, and Galloway finished with 17. The trio combined to knock down 9-of-11 3-pointers, playing a big part in the Knicks' 13-for-26 performance from beyond the arc.

The Pacers will look to continue their winning ways on Friday night, when they host the Charlotte Hornets at 7:00 PM. Indiana should be out for revenge after enduring a 117-95 drubbing at the Hornets' hands in the two teams' final game prior to the All-Star break on Feb. 10.

The Pacers posted a .505 field goal percentage in the victory, the 11th time this year they shot 50 percent or better from the field.

Indiana outscored New York 48-22 in the paint, their second-widest margin in that area all season (they outscored Toronto 48-20 in the paint on Dec. 14).

The Blue & Gold only committed eight turnovers on the night, only the third time all year they had single-digit turnovers.

George has now topped 20 points in eight straight games dating back to Feb. 5.

O'Quinn's 19 points were a season-high. Prior to Wednesday, O'Quinn had scored a total of nine points in the entire month of February.

"We were taking what the defense was giving us, trying to attack the basket. We’re growing as a basketball team." -Pacers head coach Frank Vogel

"We worked out in the summertime a lot. I knew Porzingis could play. I’m happy to see that he’s doing well out there." -Turner on his matchup with Porzingis

"It’s great to see those two play like that. Myles had some big buckets, really rebounding down the stretch and playing well on both sides of the court. Those two will be exciting to watch the next 10-15 years." -Pacers center Ian Mahinmi on Turner and Porzingis

"Kyle (O’Quinn), Langston (Galloway) and Jose (Calderon) had great games, they all stepped up. That’s why it stinks that I missed the shot that could have won us the game." -Porzingis

"Tonight we played against a really good team. We played together, our defense was better, we were more together out there." -Calderon

George scored 15 of Indiana's 28 points in the fourth quarter, going 5-for-8 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

The Pacers host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 PM. Find Tickets »

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Game Rewind: Pacers 108, Knicks 105

Editor's Note: The Delaware St. entrance to the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage is longer be in operation due to the construction of the St. Vincent Center. To enter the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage, please use to the entrance located at the intersection of E Maryland St. and S Alabama St. You will, however, still be able to exit the parking garage using the single-lane Delaware St. exit ramp.

The Pacers didn't start their post-All-Star slate of games with a perfect sweep, but they certainly came close, grabbing two straight wins before falling to Miami 101-93 in overtime on Monday night.

It was a game in which it seemed the Pacers may have simply run out of gas, missing crucial free throws down the stretch and getting outrebounded to the tune of 66-45.

TICKETS: Pacers vs Knicks - Wednesday, Feb. 24 »

But on Wednesday, the Pacers swap their normal uniforms for the Hickory ones, and prepare to face a Knicks team that has been suffering a tumultuous stretch of play.

One matchup to keep an eye on will be the meeting of Kristaps Porzingis and Myles Turner. Both lottery picks in this year's draft, the two players may hail from different continents, but their games certainly share some similarities.

RELATED: Midseason Highlights - Best Plays and Photos »

Both are capable of playing both forward positions, both have entered the NBA with a high-level midrange shooting game, and both seem to have a natural proclivity for shot blocking.

But aside from the bright spot that Porzingis has afforded the Knicks, New York has dropped 12 of its last 14 games, letting go of its head coach Derek Fisher in the process.

HICKORY HONOREE: Crispus Attucks Will be Honored at Halftime »

For the Pacers, the team's focus will likely be on fixing the rebound discrepancy that allotted the Miami Heat a 20-7 advantage on the offensive glass. It was a surprising event, given that when the Pacers faced off against the NBA's leading rebounder in Andre Drummond, they were able to contain the big man to under his season average. But when Heat center Hassan Whiteside entered the game, he disrupted the glass every moment he was on the floor, notching a double-double by the halftime whistle.

The Knicks don't have a rebounder of Drummond or Whiteside's ilk, but the frontline of Robin Lopez and Porzingis matches the height of the Pacers' frontline of Mahinmi and Turner, creating an interesting battle in the paint.

Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Myles Turner, C - Ian MahinmiKnicks: PG - Jose Calderon, SG - Aaron Afflalo, SF - Carmelo Anthony, PF - Kristaps Porzingis, C - Robin Lopez

Pacers: Rodney Stuckey - out (right foot sprain and bone bruise), C.J. Miles - questionable (strained left calf)

Knicks: Cleanthony Early - out (injured right knee)

April 8, 2015: In the midst of their end-of-season push for the playoffs, the Pacers blew past the Knicks 102-86 at Madison Square Garden. At one point, Indiana led by 28 in the blowout win.

Paul George had just started playing, and saw 15 minutes of action, managing to net 10 points during his time on the floor.

Six Pacers players finished the night scoring in double-figures, with George Hill adding a 20-point, six-rebound, five-assist performance.

Indiana was wearing its Flo-Jo uniforms that night, and moved to a perfect 6-0 on the season when donning the throwback uniform.

Make sure to have your tickets for Wednesday, Feb. 24, when the Pacers host the Knicks at 7:00 PM in a Hickory Night Game. Find Tickets »

Long Sleeve Hickory Shirt - $15. 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.

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Knicks

With 2.1 seconds on the clock and down by two, the Pacers tried to inbound the ball with the hopes of having a Hoosiers-esque ending on Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. But the pass was tipped and rolled out of bounds, sending the Pacers to a 91-89 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

With under 2:00 remaining, George Hill drained a 3-pointer to bring the Pacers within one offensive possession of the Clippers, sending the Hickory-themed crowd into a frenzy.

On the other end, Chris Paul brought the ball up court and weaved his way through the defense before finding Jamal Crawford, who was able to draw a foul and push the Clippers' lead to four.

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The Pacers were unable to respond to the bucket after a frantic possession with a tipped ball that rolled past half court and drained Indiana of its shot clock on the play.

The Clippers then iced the game with a Paul jumper from the top of the elbow, sending the Pacers to their third consecutive loss.

"There was improvement on the defensive end and that's the path back to winning games," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. "But we have to guard the 3-point line better."

Indiana did threaten in a big way when they had control of the ball down two with 2.1 seconds on the clock, but the tip by the Clippers defense averted the late-game threat.

Tuesday's Hickory Honoree: George Daniel Crowe, the Original Mr. Basketball »

Moments earlier, when the Clippers led by just three, L.A. turned Paul, who racked up 11 fourth-quarter points. Paul delivered a layup off the glass to push his team's advantage to five. On his next offensive possession, he a hit a step-back 3-pointer to push their lead to six. A lead the Pacers would scrape at, but never quite surpass in the game's waning moments.

With 3:00 remaining in the third quarter, Paul George sank a free throw to put the Pacers up 72-68.

From that point onward, the Pacers were held scoreless for 8:30 of game time, falling behind 81-72 as a result of Paul and the swarming Clippers defense.

"We had a lot of plays that we wish we could have taken back," lamented George after the game. "Just poor execution, poor spacing.  We just did a terrible job in that stretch. It kind of put us behind. Although we did a great job of giving ourselves a chance to come back and win this game, you can't have moments like that, especially against a team that's hot."

With 6:30 remaining in the game, George hit a jumper to snap the scoreless spell, then followed up with a 3-pointer that ignited the crowd at The Fieldhouse.

PG ended up scoring seven consecutive Pacers points, bringing Indiana back to within three points of the lead. That lead would get as close as two — the game's final margin — but the Pacers were unable to burst out in front, despite taking a five-point lead into the second half.

Over the first two quarters, rookie Myles Turner was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field for 16 points, helping propel the Pacers to their halftime advantage. The teams were knotted up at 25 after one quarter of play, but Turner and George combined for 12 points in the second quarter to push Indiana into the lead at the break.

The third quarter, however, favored the Clippers, as Los Angeles outscored Indiana 28-21 coming out of the locker room after the half.

As the fourth and final quarter began, the Pacers trailed L.A. 74-72, and the Clippers — although feeling pressure from the Pacers at the end — never relinquished their lead, sending Indiana to the home loss.

"It's kind of tough, especially here," explained Ian Mahinmi at his locker. "We don't like to lose and right now it's a lot of mixed feelings. We're not in the right place. We gotta go home, try to get some sleep, and regroup tomorrow."

Paul George has now scored 30 or more points in two consecutive games.

Myles Turner was a perfect 7-for-7 in the first half, but went 0-for-4 in the second half.

Although Lavoy Allen's box score doesn't jump off the page (1-of-4 for 2 points in 27 minutes), Allen's plus-minus was a team-high +10.

The Pacers shot a higher percentage, had more rebounds, and more assists than the Clippers.

"We're going to increase (Myles Turners') work load for sure. I'd like to take a look at some point, he and Ian (Mahinmi) together. I think it could be effective for us. Their bench at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth brought great pressure. The game got away from us a bit there." -Pacers head coach Frank Vogel

"We had a lot of plays that we wish we could have taken back, just poor execution, poor spacing. We just did a terrible job in that stretch. It kind of put us behind. Although we did a great job of giving ourselves a chance to come back and win this game, you can't have moments like that, especially against a team that's hot." -Paul George

"It's kind of tough, especially here. We don't like to lose and right now it's a lot of mixed feelings. We're not in the right place. We gotta go home, try to get some sleep, and regroup tomorrow." -Ian Mahinmi

The Pacers are normally one of the best teams in the league when holding teams under 100 points. So far this season, when their opponent scores fewer than 100 points, the Pacers sport a 20-3 record. But despite limiting the Clippers to 91 points — and just 17 in the fourth — the Pacers fell to Chris Paul and company on Tuesday night.

Good seats still remain for Thursday's game against Jeff Teague and the Atlanta Hawks: Find Tickets »

Hickory Long Sleeve Tee - $15. 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.