Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Preview
The Indiana Pacers, currently positioned at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 13 wins and 40 losses, are set to challenge the New York Knicks on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. EST in New York. The Knicks, boasting a strong 34-19 record, are in second place within the same conference and aim to maintain their winning momentum.
Current Form and Statistics
Indiana’s squad is desperate to snap a four-game losing span, struggling particularly against their Eastern Conference rivals, with a disappointing record of 9 wins and 26 losses. The Pacers are allowing an average of 118.5 points per game, resulting in a negative scoring differential of 7.9 points, which reflects significant difficulties defensively.
In contrast, the Knicks have demonstrated resilience and competitiveness, particularly in rebounds, as they rank second in the Eastern Conference, pulling down an impressive 46.2 boards per game. Karl-Anthony Towns leads the Knicks in this category with an average of 11.9 rebounds per game. New York also excels offensively, scoring an average of 117.3 points, slightly under the average points the Pacers concede.
Previous Matchup
This matchup marks the second encounter between the two teams this season. In their previous clash on December 19, the Knicks edged out the Pacers with a narrow victory of 114-113, thanks to
Jalen Brunson’s standout performance, scoring 25 points
, while Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 31 points.
Key Players to Watch
Highlighting the players to watch, the Knicks’ Mikal Bridges is contributing 15.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while over the last ten games, Brunson has upped his performance to an average of 23.6 points and 3.7 rebounds. For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam has been a key player, scoring 23.6 points with 6.7 rebounds and providing 3.9 assists. In addition, Jarace Walker is also showing promise with an average of 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in the last ten games.
Recent Performances
Analyzing their recent performances, the Knicks have been on fire, winning 9 of their last 10 games, averaging 115 points and 47.5 rebounds, with a field goal accuracy of 48.1%. In sharp contrast, the Pacers have faced challenges, with just 3 wins out of their last 10, averaging 112.2 points and shooting 47% from the field while letting opponents score an average of 118.8 points.
Injury Updates
Injury updates reveal that the Knicks may be without OG Anunoby (day-to-day due to a toe injury) and Miles McBride (ankle injury). Moreover, the Pacers face significant setbacks, with Obi Toppin and Ivica Zubac ruled out, while star player Tyrese Haliburton is out for the remainder of the season due to an Achilles injury, alongside Kobe Brown who is not with the team for non-injury reasons.
This game serves as a critical opportunity for the Pacers to turn their season around against a formidable Knicks squad.
