The NBA playoffs are now down to only four teams that have a chance of making it out of their conferences and competing for a title this season.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder will begin the Western Conference Finals as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For the Eastern Conference Finals, it tips off on Wednesday night as the New York Knicks host the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson
Oct 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden.
© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It has been an incredible season for both the Knicks and Pacers as both have been able to get past the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference during the playoffs.
The Pacers eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games while the Knicks were able to take down the defending champion Boston Celtics in six games.
Now the two sides will square off with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson did not hesitate to make his prediction for the series ahead of Wednesday’s Game 1.
“I have the New Knicks beating the Indiana Pacers and the Minnesota Timberwolves beating the Oklahoma City Thunder to advance to the NBA Finals,” Johnson posted on X on Tuesday.
Johnson is electing to go with the upset in the Western Conference by picking the Timberwolves over the Thunder but in the Eastern Conference, he is choosing to go with the favorites in the Knicks.
Of course, the Knicks enter the series as the favorite to represent the East in the NBA Finals but they will have a tough test against a Pacers team playing the best they have all season.
Tyrese Haliburton
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton handles the basketball against the New York Knicks.
© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Despite this, New York has built a roster full of stars that is ready to compete for a championship led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns but they will have to find a way to stop Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner on the other side.
New York also enters the series with revenge on their mind after the Pacers knocked them out of the playoffs last season as they try to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.