The New York Knicks’ footing on the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference is not as strong as it once was. The Knicks ( 44-26) only hold a 2.5-game lead over the Indiana Pacers (42-29) as the regular season draws to a close. The remaining 11-12 games of the year could see New York slide to the No. 4 seed.

Indiana has the 10th-ranked offense and 16th-ranked defense this season. Since Jan. 1, Indiana’s offense ranks seventh and its defense ranks 13th, both better than New York. Still, the Knicks are 2-1 against the Pacers. Indiana didn’t have Myles Turner in one of its losses, though, and New York didn’t have OG Anunoby in that game.

The New York Knicks are on relatively uneven ground right now. They are still without star point guard Jalen Brunson—although Brunson appears to be heading for a return before the playoffs. And Mitchell Robinson remains on a recovery plan that will hopefully (but not definitely) cease to exist once the playoffs begin.

Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers have won five straight games and host the Los Angeles Lakers. Here are the projected lineups and a prediction.