May 19, 2024. The day, the Pacers made history, as declared by their head coach, by silencing the Madison Square Garden crowd with the final nail in the coffin. The semi-final series victory. That alone made too many heads turn. No one saw it coming even when the two sides were even (3-3). To avenge that, the Knicks didn’t spare the Pacers (123-98) when they met last month at the same spot for a regular season matchup. Now it’s time for the Pacers to welcome their Eastern rivals at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Will they be able to return the favor today? Before putting that thought into our heads, let’s find out who will give the nail-biting game a miss.

Knicks vs Pacers: Injury Report

Although the Knicks’ starting lineup is strong, their bench is struggling due to a growing injury list. However, there is a glimmer of hope for point guards Miles McBride and Cameron Payne, who have been listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup. McBride was initially sidelined due to an undisclosed illness, while Payne has been recovering from a hamstring injury.

Precious Achiuwa‘s name has been on the injury report before the season began, due to a left hamstring strain. While Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has shown optimism about his recovery, the Nigerian forward is yet to begin training. The other two players listed in the report are Kevin McCullar Jr. and Mitchell Robinson, who are not yet ready to return to action due to knee and ankle injuries, respectively.

On the flip side, according to ESPN, the updated injury report for the Pacers indicates that most of their players will be evaluated before a final decision is made for the Eastern clash. Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell are all listed as questionable for the game. McConnell was given rest due to illness, while Nembhard has been dealing with left knee soreness.

Toppin was added to the list due to a left ankle sprain, which could be a significant loss for the Pacers in the frontcourt. Even before Friday’s game against the Hornets, Nembhard was listed as probable but was ultimately sidelines. Meanwhile, Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson, and James Wiseman will remain out. Wiseman and Jackson are both dealing with torn Achilles injuries, while Nesmith is sidelined with a sprained ankle. The injury-riddled Pacers may once again be forced to surrender to the Knicks. But before jumping to a conclusion let’s find out what their roster could look like if the questionable ones do not turn up.

Knicks vs Pacers: Depth Chart and regular season head-to-head

After defeating the Bucks, the Knicks’ dream team regained their confidence and are now fully prepared to face the Pacers. Head coach Tom Thibodeau will start the game with his usual starting five, featuring the scoring machine Jalen Brunson, who will be supported by his former Villanova backcourt partner Mikal Bridges. Josh Hart will focus on his playmaking role to help set the tone for OG Anunoby at the frontcourt. And Karl-Anthony Towns will continue to grab the spotlight with his phenomenal performance at both ends of the court.

While the Knicks are aiming to extend their winning streak on the road, the Pacers will be looking to regain their momentum. Tyrese Haliburton needs to step up and lead the team alongside Pascal Siakam since they wouldn’t be able to go ahead with their starting lineup. This presents an opportunity for Haliburton to answer his critics by delivering an outstanding performance against the Knicks. Myles Turner will take on key responsibilities at center, and with Nesmith sidelined and Nembhard’s presence still not confirmed, the Pacers may turn to their backup options to fill the gap.

In the past two seasons, the competition between the Knicks and the Pacers has been neck-and-neck. However, the Knicks edged ahead by winning one more game (4-3), maintaining their overall head-to-head lead at 101-95. The Pacers, though, are not far behind, with just a six-game deficit.

Given the current form of both teams, it’s tough to predict which side holds the upper hand. But only one can come out on top recording the fifth win, and that will be decided in the next few hours. So, get ready for the Sunday evening showdown at 5:00 PM ET.