Knicks at Pacers: How & Who to Watch With a Playoff Spot Clinched

The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are facing meaningless games for entirely different reasons.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Once again, the New York Knicks find themselves playing meaningless basketball come April.

This time around, however, it's for the sweetest of reasons: New York has locked up its reservation into the 2023 NBA playoffs, clinching its second postseason berth over the last three years but only its second over the past decade as well. Before the postseason festivities, which open in the Eastern Conference's fifth seed, begin, the Knicks have three more games left on their regular season docket, two of which come against the doomed Indiana Pacers. The first lands on Wednesday night in Indianapolis

Whereas the Knicks are locked in at No. 5, Indiana is trapped playing the lottery odds game once again. It was a loss to the Knicks that apparently derailed the Pacers' surprisingly inspiring start: a 119-113 loss at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 11 was the first defeat of an ongoing 11-27 stretch that stands as the fourth-worst record in the NBA in that span. 

Though they've improved from a 25-win campaign in the first year of head coach Rick Carlisle's return, the Pacers are set to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season. As it stands, the Pacers own the seventh-best odds at the NBA Draft Lottery and can move as high as fifth (and as low as 10th) with three games remaining.

With two games remaining against Indiana (the latter being the regular season finale on Sunday), the Knicks have a chance for their first season sweep of the Pacers since the 1993-94 season. 

What: New York Knicks (46-33) @ Indiana Pacers (34-45)

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

When/Watch: Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, MSG/MSG Go

Who's Favored: NYK -8

THIS SEQUENCE FROM OBI TOPPIN 🔥🔥

SEASON-HIGH 21 POINTS NOW pic.twitter.com/Q833WKLLYQ

— KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) April 3, 2023

Keep An Eye On: Obi Toppin

Thrust back into the primary stages of the Knicks' rotation upon Julius Randle's injury, Toppin has responded well to the late challenge. He has played a strong role in helping the Knicks lock down a playoff spot, putting in 33 points on 64 percent shooting over the last two games.

Toppin's late heroics probably come a bit too late to extend his Knicks career beyond the coming postseason but the team is appreciating what he's bringing to the table over his potential final metropolitan hours. Head coach Tom Thibodeau, for example, was pleased with Toppin's shot selection during a 9-of-15 outing en route to a season-best 21 points in Sunday's playoff-clinching win over Washington.

“Obi gave us great minutes,” Thibodeau said in video from the Knicks. “He put the ball in the basket. Obi made a number of good plays off the double team. Either he shot it, made a quick decision, or skipped to the cross. He got his rhythm shots.”

Time will tell if Randle is ready to partake in the Knicks' coming series with the Cavaliers. The immediate contests are mostly meaningless but can afford Toppin a unique opportunity to generate momentum and on-floor chemistry if he's called upon for extended duties this spring.

Bennedict Mathurin is CLUTCH 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/LuQqNeWdvk

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 25, 2023

Pacer to Watch: Bennedict Mathurin

A white flag flies not at Indianapolis Motor Speedway but from Gainbridge Arena: continued caution when it comes to the status of All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who has played in only two of the past dozen games due to various ailments, serves as a de facto sign of surrender. With any postseason hopes officially dashed, it wouldn't shock anyone to see both Haliburton and Myles Turner (questionable with an ankle injury) shut down for the remainder of the year.

The rookie Mathurin, one of the latest additions to the Pacers' ongoing rebuild, has taken advantage of getting the offensive spotlight, averaging 22.3 points and 6.5 rebounds over his past four games. It has allowed Mathurin, the sixth overall pick out of Arizona last summer, to make up for lost time after he missed four games with an ankle sprain last month.

“We miss a guy that brings (a) great attitude to the game," Carlisle said in what the Pacers lose in Mathurin, per Tony East of Forbes. "In his first year, he is a proven NBA scorer."

To Carlisle's point, Mathurin's 16.6 points per game are second among active Association freshmen to only 2022 top choice Paolo Banchero. 

Prediction

Considering the poor, late luck they've had with injuries (losing Randle while RJ Barrett remains doubtful with an illness), the Knicks perhaps wish they could simply forfeit the remaining trio. Alas, Indiana, perhaps eager for any advantage they can get in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, probably wouldn't let them. 

All in all, the Knicks have an ever-so-slight cause to play for: building chemistry and momentum for a playoff berth not many saw coming. Records can be swatted away come playoff team ... just ask the 2021 Knicks that lasted only five playoff games after going 16-4 in the preceding 20 ... but New York will take any good vibes it can as visits from Donovan Mitchell loom.

Knicks 102, Pacers 96

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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