New York Knicks: Key Matchups To Watch Against Indiana Pacers

2. Kristaps Porzingis vs. Myles Turner

The New York Knicks have a young phenom in power forward Kristaps Porzingis. Though he may not receive as much attention, the Indiana Pacers have a rising star of their own in center Myles Turner.

Porzingis has played at a higher level than Turner thus far, but he’ll need to prove himself all over again when the Knicks host the Pacers on Tuesday.

Porzingis and Turner are likely to be matched up against one another due to their similar skill sets. Both are exceptional shot-blockers and explosive athletes for their respective heights, and both have massive wingspans and range beyond the 3-point line.

Easily the most intriguing aspect of this matchup is that Porzingis will be tasked with defending a player who can do similar things to what he can.

Turner already has seven 20-point games in 2016-17, including the 30 points and 16 rebounds he posted in Indiana’s opener. Porzingis should win this matchup, but no assumptions can be made when two players of this caliber go toe-to-toe.

The meeting with Karl-Anthony Towns may have garnered more headlines, but Porzingis and Turner could become the future faces of the Knicks-Pacers rivalry—and the Eastern Conference.