Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton became fast friends as teammates last summer with Team USA, but that will get pushed aside when the two All-Star point guards clash in the Eastern Conference semifinals beginning Monday night at the Garden. “Great player. Didn’t really know him until — like, I knew of him, we met a couple of times — but we didn’t really become friends until last summer,” Brunson said Saturday. “Great guy, great family. He became one of my friends, obviously through that [experience at the FIBA World Cup], and I have all the respect in the world for him and the way ..read more

The 6-8 Siakam was terrific in the Pacers’ series victory over the Bucks, posting 22.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists, and became a major part of Indiana’s top-ranked offense after coming over in a Jan. 17 trade. This will be new for both of them. Even during scrimmages in practice with the Raptors, they rarely guarded one another because they were often on the same team. “I know some stuff,” Anunoby said. “He’s a great player. I think everyone knows that. … He’s made a big impact. Plays both ends. Can score, he can rebound, he can pass. He can do everything ..read more

Obi Toppin is doing his best not to make more out of facing his former team on the big stage. Yes, it will be exciting returning home to play the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but the team’s former first-round pick isn’t looking at it as a personal battle. “I feel like I’m preparing myself just like I did for Milwaukee,” Toppin said Saturday, referring to the first-round series the Pacers won in six games. “Just locking into everything the coaches are telling us to do offensively and defensively, and playing my role ..read more

With Haliburton at the helm, the Pacers fittingly played at the second-fastest pace — the number of possessions a team gets per 48 minutes — during the regular season, with the Knicks ranked 30th in the league. “It [depends] how you would define pace,” Tom Thibodeau said. “I think we were fifth in scoring [in the first round]. I think we’re probably second in fast-break points. Then when you look at total shot attempts, we’re always at the top. “So it’s however you get there. I told you, you can make stats say whatever you want, but the most important one is the net rating. And so, t ..read more

If Indiana is going to pull off a second-round upset against the Knicks, the Pacers’ best chance will be … pace. “That’s the path for the Pacers, to get out and play fast and make it in the 110-to-118 range,” one Eastern Conference scout told The Post. “Play fast,” another scout laughed. “They have to play fast. I mean, that’s their whole shtick. “If Indiana is taking the ball out of the basket, walking it up, that’s the Knicks’ advantage. So if the Knicks continue to play good team basketball and they’re scoring, then that’s going to be advantage New York. … The play-fast thing ..read more

No one moves in transition like this team. The Pacers manufacture transition opportunities other teams would never even consider. They run after turnovers and after grabbing defensive rebounds, which the Knicks try, too. But they don’t stop there. If Brunson hits a layup in the half court but falls in the process, the Pacers will speed the other way. They play at the fastest pace in the league after allowing made baskets, according to inpredictable.com. They are true to their name ..read more

Steve Popper: OG Anunoby, who played college ball in Indiana, focused on proper prep:. Give guys the Indiana food recommendations yet? “No one’s asked yet. Not yet.” Recommend pascal Siakam defensive tips? “Oh yeah, I know some stuff ..read more

Dressed in a gray-hooded sweatsuit, Julius Randle took his seat at the end of the Knicks’ bench Thursday night for the first time since he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last month. Coach Tom Thibodeau noted the importance of the three-time All-Star’s presence, and being able to share in the team’s first-round ouster of the 76ers in Game 6 in Philadelphia. “It was great, it was great to see him,” Thibodeau said after the win, which sets up a second-round matchup against the Pacers. “You miss the smile. You’re talking about, and people tend to forget because he’s been out for a w ..read more

ClutchPoints: “He’s a little bit of Steve Nash, there’s some James Harden, there’s some Dame Lillard.” Rick Carlisle speaks highly on Jalen Brunson (via @dpshow) pic.twitter.com/JjxsGBbsvy "He's a little bit of Steve Nash, there's some James Harden, there's some Dame Lillard." Rick Carlisle speaks highly on Jalen Brunson (via @dpshow)pic.twitter.com/JjxsGBbsvy — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 3, 2024 ..read more

With roughly two and a half minutes to play and down 20, Bucks guard Patrick Beverley threw a basketball at a fan behind him from the team’s bench. He appeared to miss his target, a male Pacers fan, instead hitting a female Pacers fan in the side of the head before asking for the ball back. The man collected the ball and tossed it back to Beverley, who immediately over-the-head, double-hand chucked it back at the fan. The fan deflected the ball as Bucks staff and security stepped in, but the fan and Beverley continued to exchange words. According to one source who witnessed the incident and t ..read more