Which is the better matchup for the Celtics: Knicks or Pacers?

The Celtics punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth time in eight seasons.

They are still waiting to know who their next opponent will be. The Knicks and Pacers are set for Game 6 tonight, with a 3-2 lead over the Knicks. The winner of this series will travel to Boston to kick off the next round on Tuesday.

So, which opponent would be the best matchup for the Celtics? Here are five reasons why the Celtics are more likely to fare better against the Knicks.

The Knicks are not at full strength

If you think the Celtics had a bad shot with Kristaps Porzingis’ calf strain, take a look at who the Knicks are missing:

Julius Randle and Bojan Bogdanovic are out for the season. Mitchell Robinson is expected to miss the rest of the playoffs with an ankle injury. OG Anunoby is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury Friday night.

The Knicks were able to continue moving forward, even though they were hit hard by injuries.

The Celtics, on the other hand (knock on wood), are healthy outside of Porzingis and will have had nearly a week to rest and recharge by the time this series begins on Tuesday.

Plus, Boston already had the most talented roster anyway.

Boston has a significant size advantage

Four of the five players the Knicks started in Game 5 were 6-foot-4 or shorter.

Compare that to the taller, longer Celtics. Point guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the same size or taller than almost all of the Knicks’ starting five.

Obviously, this is due to injuries, and if the 6-foot-7 Anunoby returns, it could be a slightly different story. But there’s a good chance Jayson Tatum (6-foot-8), Jaylen Brown (6-foot-9) and co. there will likely be smaller players across the board and should be able to do some damage inside.

Dealing with Isaiah Hartenstein, a bunch of guards and a dose of Precious Achiuwa here and there should be a lot lighter on the Celtics’ bigs than Indiana’s front line of Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam would be and Obi Toppin.

Plus, the Celtics have the ability to go small when they want.

No backcourt duo is better equipped to take on Jalen Brunson than Boston’s

Speaking of White and Holiday, they should (at least on paper) have the best chance of slowing down Knicks star Jalen Brunson.

Brunson is averaging a league-best 33.9 points per game in the playoffs, but Boston has the luxury of putting two of the league’s best defenders in his place.

Holiday and White finished sixth and eighth in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting. Boston has been one of the best defensive teams in the league all year, and their backcourt is a big reason why.

The Celtics played better against the Knicks in the regular season

If we only talk about head-to-head battles this season, then the Knicks are the weaker opponent.

Boston went 4-1 against the Knicks this season. Indiana went 3-2. New York’s only victory came last month in the penultimate game of the regular season.

Boston had already clinched first place in the East, while the Knicks were still playing for the top seeds.

If anyone can match Boston’s offensive firepower, it’s Indiana..

The only team with higher offensive efficiency than the Celtics in these playoffs is the Pacers.

They lead the league in points per game (112.6) and assist ratio (2.74). They are also second in points in the paint.

Indiana led the league in points per game, field goal percentage and assists during the regular season.