3. Indiana (58-24, 3-1) vs. 7. New York (43-39, 3-2)

* Season series--Indiana, 2-1.

* Story line--You have to give credit to the Knicks for pluck and their performance in Game 5 in Miami, to Coach Jeff Van Gundy for holding them together, as well as not getting stepped on, and to Larry Johnson for his play, even before his hockey-goon elimination of the other side’s star. However, although turnabout is fair play and they won’t be easy to beat, don’t think for a second the Pacers mind seeing them.

Larry Bird’s team seems to have become as tough-minded as he was. His players are veterans of playoff wars and won’t be pushed around, starting with Reggie Miller, who was a Knick killer when they were a lot better than they are now.

If history is a guide, Reggie will soon insult the Knicks, get all of Gotham down on him and win one game in Madison Square Garden single-handedly.

Knick center Patrick Ewing, who hasn’t played since breaking his right wrist on Dec. 20 and undergoing surgery, has had some limited practice recently but has not received medical clearance to play.

“If he gets clearance to play he’ll play. If he doesn’t he won’t,” Van Gundy said of Ewing on Monday. “If he’s going to play he’ll be in uniform. He’s not playing [tonight]. Whether he plays in the series at all is up in the air.”

* Prediction--Pacers, 4-2, unless Johnson can get Miller suspended. The odds are better that Miller, an even greater provocateur, can get Johnson suspended.

1. Utah (62-20, 3-2) vs. 5. San Antonio (56-26, 3-1)

* Season series--Utah, 3-1.

* Story line--What did that pratfall the Jazz took mean? That it was in the wrong place at the wrong time against a Houston team that had been lying in the weeds? Or that, despite its 50-15 finish with John Stockton, and losing only six games after the All-Star break, the Jazz isn’t what it was a year ago?

“I don’t know if they’re as good as they were a year ago,” Charles Barkley said. “There’s something wrong with John Stockton.”

Barkley thinks Stockton is hurting and hiding it. Although Stockton’s numbers were respectable, he missed two crucial 18-footers in Game 4, despite getting open looks, and didn’t score from the floor at all in Game 5. That’s not Stockton.

San Antonio’s Tim Duncan was as good as advertised against Phoenix, averaging 20 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 2.8 assists. Avery Johnson averaged a mind-bending 20 points, but the Jazz won’t let him stroll blithely through the lane as the Suns did.

The Spurs advanced to the second round with a four-game series victory against the Suns. That series ended April 29, so it has been nearly a week since San Antonio played. Coach Gregg Popovich isn’t sure whether the downtime will help or hurt his team.

* Prediction--Jazz, 4-2. Someone like Jaren Jackson and/or Chuck Person would have to raise his game to where Jackson’s has never been and Person’s hasn’t been in years to give the Spurs a chance.