L.A. Lakers vs. Indiana

• Game 1: Wednesday at L.A., 9 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Friday at L.A., 9 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Sunday at Indiana, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Game 4: June 14 at Indiana, 9 p.m. ET
• Game 5: June 16 at Indiana, 9 p.m. ET*
• Game 6: June 19 at Lakers, 9 p.m. ET*
• Game 7: June 21 at Lakers, 9 p.m.. ET*
• * = if necessary

Noteworthy: The Pacers are making their first trip to the NBA Finals, finally getting past the Eastern Conference finals obstacle that had stumbled them in four of the past six years. ... With 7-footer Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. had a big advantage over the Pacers in the two regular-season games, which was a 1-1 split with each team winning on their home courts. Shaq averaged 26.5 points and 14.5 rebounds a game to Pacer center Rik Smits' eight points and 6.5 boards. The Lakers outrebounded the Pacers by a 49-40.5 average. ... It's the Lakers first trip to the Finals since 1991 when they lost to the Bulls in five games and the 19th time the team has made it since they moved to L.A. 29 years ago. They have six world titles in that span, five of them coming in the 1980s. Combined with their stint in Minneapolis, the Lakers franchise has been to the Final an NBA-best 25 times. ... Until the tip-off of Game 1, four of the Pacers will be among the top 10 players who have played the most playoff games without participating in the Finals: Derrick McKey, No. 1 at 138; Rik Smits, third at 98; Mark Jackson (97), tied for fourth; Reggie Miller (94), fifth. ... The Pacers are the second former ABA team to make it to the Finals -- the Spurs were the first, winning the Championship in five games against the Knicks last summer.