The New York Knicks (4-4) take part in their fourth game of a five-game homestand at Madison Square Garden on Sunday Night (Nov. 5) against the Indiana Pacers (5-4).
The Pacers entered Friday (Nov. 3) with a three-game winning streak, but that disappeared after their 121-110 road loss at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers led by seven at halftime but were outscored 65-47 in the second half. The 76ers connected on half of their three-point tries (18-of-36).
The Knicks will come into Sunday night’s tilt as winners of four of their last five games after Friday’s 120–07 home victory over the Phoenix Suns.
New York shot 51.7 percent from the field while holding the Suns to just 35.1 percent shooting.
Projected starters
Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Victor Oladipo, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Knicks: PG - Jarrett Jack, SG - Tim Hardaway Jr., SF - Courtney Lee, PF - Kristaps Porzingis, C - Enes Kanter
Team stat leaders
Pacers: Scoring - Victor Oladipo 24.6, Rebounding - Domantas Sabonis 10.6 (Myles Turner 11.5 in two games), Assists - Darren Collison 7.0
Knicks: Scoring - Kristaps Porzingis 29.0, Rebounding - Enes Kanter 10.5, Assists - Jarrett Jack 6.0
Injury report
Pacers: Out - Glenn Robinson III (ankle), Edmond Sumner (knee), Questionable - T. J. Leaf (ankle), Damien Wilkins (personal)
Knicks: Out - Joakim Noah (suspension), Questionable - Ron Baker (ankle)
What Knicks fans should know and watch for
After missing seven games with a concussion, center Myles Turner returned to action for the Pacers on Friday.
The big man had a nice four games against the Knicks last season, scoring at least 17 points in three of the meetings and also finishing with a double-double in three of four games. Expect to possibly see more of Kyle O’Quinn if Turner gets it going early.
While New York still has to play five more games before his suspension is over, one has to wonder where Joakim Noah will fit into the rotation.
His contract makes him seemingly untradeable with three years/$55.5+ million still remaining. The 32-year-old was a major disappointment in his first season with the Knicks in 2016-17. If Willy Hernangomez can’t crack the Knicks’ center rotation, can Noah? He may end up becoming the league’s most expensive player that sits the bench.
There has been a large discrepancy between a number of points the Knicks have scored and allowed in their wins versus the losses. In their four victories, they are averaging 114.3 points per game. The four times they have been defeated, their average falls 20 points lower to 94.3. They are allowing an average of 99.5 points in wins and 111.3 in losses.
History of Pacers vs. Knicks
The Knicks and Pacers had some historic playoff battles in the 1990’s, meeting five times, with New York winning three of those series. The two teams have met 171 times in the regular season with the Knicks holding a 90-81 edge in the win column.
New York won the four-game series by taking three games over Indiana last season. Three of the four games were close and decided by seven points or fewer. Before last season, the Pacers had won seven straight against the Knicks.
