After waiting 159 days for a return game, the New York Knicks (0-1) will finally get a chance to right their wrongs when they host Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers (1-0) in their first home game of the season tonight .

On May 19, 2024, the No. 6 seed Pacers defeated the No. 2 seed Knicks in the final game of the seven-game Eastern Conference semifinals to advance to the conference finals (they lost). All-Star point guard Haliburton led the Pacers, while Jalen Brunson made playoff history for the Knicks with over 300 points and 70 assists. The highest-scoring Hoosiers might have been driven from Gotham if our heroes hadn't been reduced to five and a half players and an empty box of Band-Aids.

At the start of the current season, the Knicks stumbled out of the gate, losing to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. In the 132:109 defeat, Jayson Tatum scored 37 points and his team set an NBA record with 29 three-pointers. Despite Brunson's 22 points, the Knicks struggled defensively and felt the absence of Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa.

On Wednesday, the Pacers won their first game, narrowly beating the Detroit Pistons 115-109 at Little Caesars Arena. Myles Turner led Indiana with 20 points, while Bennedict Mathurin and Pascal Siakam contributed 19 each. The game was close until the fourth quarter, when Indiana outscored the home team 33-19 and Haliburton used heroics to secure the win.

Some are predicting the Indiana Pacers will finish the 2024-25 season at 46-36 – a slight step backwards, but still in playoff contention. Led by Haliburton and the newly signed Siakam, their offense remains strong, although their defense still looks suspect on paper. They have a solid core and the Eastern Conference will be fiercely competitive, but Indiana could become an outlier in the playoffs if they score more points than they give up.

Indiana starters

Tyrese Haliburton has risen to NBA stardom since being drafted 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2020. He joined the Pacers in 2022 and became an All-Star in 2023, averaging 20.7 points and 10.4 assists per game. He made the All-NBA Third Team last season, and this summer Indiana rewarded his efforts with a five-year contract extension worth $244.62 million. He played through injuries for much of last season; He's obviously healthy now and should continue to solidify his reputation as one of the best point guards in the league. Tonight he will face Jalen Brunson, who he last met in the squared circle.

Indiana was drafted Andrew Nembhard He was ranked 31st in 2022 and made an immediate impact, averaging 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his rookie season. He started in 63 of 75 games and quickly proved to be a valuable and efficient contributor. Against the Knicks in the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the sophomore averaged 12.3 points, five assists and three rebounds on 53% shooting. In the seventh game he shot 8 of 10 from the field and scored 20 points. That hurt, my friends.

After starting with the Celtics, Aaron Nesmith revived his career after a trade to the Pacers in 2022. Located in the heartland of America, the 6-foot-3 3-and-D winger benefited from the increased playing time, averaging over 10 points per game and becoming a key contributor to the team. He averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists, but shot poorly from beyond the arc in the semifinals against the Knicks.

With the Toronto Raptors, the incredible spinning Pascal Siakam He gradually developed into a key player, winning the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2019 and helping the Raptors to their first championship. The 6-foot, 220-pound forward, a two-time All-Star and All-NBA selection, was traded during Toronto's midseason purge and averaged 20.0 points in his seven playoff games against Toronto , 6.4 rebounds and three assists for the Knicks. This summer, the 30-year-old signed a four-year, $189.5 million contract with Indiana.

Myles TurnerDrafted 11th overall by the Pacers in 2015, he has developed into a solid two-way center thanks to his shot blocking and a respectable outside shot. He continues to be a cornerstone in Indiana after signing a two-year, $60 million contract extension in January 2023. Basketball Reference projects him to average 21 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game this season. Also: He loves his Legos.

forecast

Last season reignited the rivalry between the Knicks and Pacers, and expectations are high for the 2024-25 season as both teams look to prove their strength in the East. After losing their first game of the regular season on Tuesday, New York will be looking to bounce back and seek revenge against a deadlier opponent. Tonight, the Knicks should have an easier time getting open attention, and a tenacious defense will do what Detroit failed to do: hand the Hoosiers a loss. The Knicks win it +4 in crunch time.

Game details

WHO: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers

When: Friday, October 25, 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

Regard: ESPN, MSG Network

Consequences: @ptknicksblog