NEW YORK — It’s the matchup Tyrese Haliburton wanted — one-on-one with the Knicks captain — and with just under five minutes left in the third quarter of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals matchup between the Knicks and Pacers, Indiana’s All-Star guard dialed his own number.

Haliburton is easily the heel in this scenario. After being voted the most overrated player in the NBA by his peers, Haliburton went on a tear, leading the Pacers to series wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s taken up the mantle passed on by Pacers’ legend Reggie Miller in irking the Knicks fanbase beyond their wits’ end.

Wednesday is a big day in New York City as the No. 3-seeded Knicks host the No. 4-seeded Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, New York is looking for redemption after advancing to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

Once Giannis Antetokounmpo became a megastar, the Milwaukee Bucks did everything possible to win a championship, trades to acquire players like Eric Bledsoe, Jrue Holiday, and Damian Lillard. One of those helped get them a championship in 2021. However, Lillard's Achilles injury makes a championship run for the 2025-26 season seem impossible.

The NBA Conference Finals are a good reminder of why the Milwaukee Bucks must hit on their pick in the upcoming draft.

WWE writes a great script,” Josh Hart said after practice Monday in Tarrytown. “There’s gonna be a lot of guys trying to get on WWE this summer.”