Knicks vs Pacers
Every time Knicks vs Pacers share the floor, something memorable happens. The Knicks–Pacers rivalry runs deep — built on playoff wars, buzzer-beaters, and two franchises that simply refuse to back down. In the 2025–26 season, that tension has only grown. New York has been dominant in the regular season, while Indiana’s playoff run last spring still stings for Knicks fans. This breakdown covers every key stat, standout performer, and game detail you need.
Where Things Stand: Recent Head-to-Head Results
The 2024–25 postseason belonged to Indiana. The Pacers knocked the Knicks out in a six-game Eastern Conference Finals series, capitalizing on New York’s injuries and Tyrese Haliburton’s elite playmaking. That loss lit a fire.
Fast-forward to 2025–26, and the Knicks have flipped the script entirely. With a healthy roster, they’ve gone 3–1 against Indiana in the regular season — outrebounding, outscoring, and outpacing the Pacers in nearly every category.
Game Recap: Knicks Win a Defensive Battle in Indianapolis (March 13, 2026)
Final score: Indiana Pacers 92, New York Knicks 101
Although it was never pretty, the Knicks deserved it. Playing on the road, New York leaned on the two players who have defined their identity: Jalen Brunson’s composure and Mitchell Robinson’s physical presence.
Brunson was the engine from tip-off. He orchestrated the offense, finished through contact, and made the right reads in the fourth quarter — ending the night with 29 points and 9 assists. Meanwhile, Robinson was absolutely dominant on the glass. His 22 rebounds — a career high — didn’t just win the rebounding battle; it removed Indiana’s second-chance opportunities entirely.
The Pacers made it interesting late on, but the Knicks’ final 7-0 run ended any hopes of a comeback.
Knicks Standouts:
- Jalen Brunson — 29 PTS, 9 AST, +17 net rating
- Mitchell Robinson — 12 PTS, 22 REB, +31 net rating
Pacers Standout:
- Jarace Walker — 18 PTS, 9 REB
Game Recap: The Knicks Put on an Offensive Show at MSG (March 17, 2026)
Final score: Indiana Pacers 110, New York Knicks 136
Four days later, Madison Square Garden witnessed something different — a complete offensive takeover. With Brunson resting, the burden shifted, and Josh Hart answered in a way nobody expected.
Hart was simply flawless. He scored 33 points on 12-of-13 shooting, hitting all five of his three-point attempts. It was arguably the finest individual performance of his career. OG Anunoby assisted Karl-Anthony Towns with 26 points and 8 rebounds as he dominated inside with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The Knicks shot 51.8% from the field as a team. Indiana, I never managed to slow down either Pascal Siakam or Andrew Nembhard.
For the Pacers, this loss marked their 14th straight — a brutal stretch that exposed just how thin their roster is without key contributors.
Full Box Score — March 17, 2026
| Knicks | PTS | REB | AST | Pacers | PTS | REB | AST |
| Josh Hart | 33 | 7 | 5 | Jarace Walker | 16 | 5 | 5 |
| OG Anunoby | 26 | 8 | 4 | Obi Toppin | 15 | 6 | 2 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 22 | 11 | 3 | Aaron Nesmith | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| Miles McBride | 14 | 3 | 6 | T.J. McConnell | 10 | 3 | 10 |
| Jalen Brunson | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Player Spotlight: Jalen Brunson
If there’s one player who defines how the Knicks approach this rivalry, it’s Brunson. His ability to control tempo — slowing the game down when Indiana wants to run, or attacking when the defense gives him space — is what separates New York from most Eastern Conference teams.
His 29 points and 9 assists on March 13 served as an excellent illustration. He wasn’t flashy. He just made winning plays consistently, including four clutch-time baskets that kept the Knicks ahead when Indiana made their push.
On the season, Brunson is averaging 26.0 points and 6.8 assists per game — numbers that place him firmly in the MVP conversation.
Player Spotlight: Tyrese Haliburton
Despite Indiana’s struggles as a team, Haliburton continues to prove he belongs among the NBA’s best point guards. His vision, court awareness, and ability to create for others are elite, even when the supporting cast falls short.
During last year’s playoff run, his stat lines were genuinely special — 20+ points, 7+ assists, and a positive net rating in high-pressure situations. This season, he’s maintaining roughly 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game, though injuries have limited Indiana’s ability to build around him consistently.
When Haliburton is healthy and surrounded by contributors, the Pacers are a genuine threat. The issue in 2025–2026 is that there has not been enough “healthy and surrounded” time.
Advanced Stats: Who Actually Controlled the Game?
Raw scoring only tells part of the story. The plus/minus numbers from these two games demonstrate the dominance of certain players.
- Mitchell Robinson, March 13 — +31 net rating. When Robinson played, New York controlled the paint and the scoreboard. His impact went well beyond the stat sheet.
- OG Anunoby, March 13 — +17 net rating. His two-way presence — locking up Pacers guards while contributing offensively — swung the momentum repeatedly.
- Tyrese Haliburton, 2025 Playoffs — +23 net rating acros Where to Find the Best Ensalada de Garbanzos Near You
- s the series, a reminder of how crucial Where to Get the Best Garbanzo Ensalada in Your Area
The Broader Picture: Eastern Conference Standings and Playoff Stakes
This rivalry carries real weight in the conference standings. Historically, the Knicks lead the all-time regular-season series 105–97 across 202 meetings. But history only matters so much come April.
The 2025 playoffs proved that anything can happen — the Pacers won that series without the Knicks at full health. With Towns and Brunson both healthy this season, New York looks like a legitimate contender to reach — and win — the Eastern Conference Finals.
Indiana, meanwhile, is in a difficult spot. Their season-long losing stretch has raised questions about roster construction, and without consistent contributions from Siakam and Nembhard, they’ve lacked the depth to compete with New York’s physicality.
Rebounding, Transition, and the Hidden Battle
One area where this matchup is consistently decided: the glass.
Indiana thrives in transition. When Haliburton pushes the pace after a missed shot, the Pacers can score in bunches before defenses reset. The counter to that is simple — don’t miss, and if you do, get the offensive rebound.
That’s exactly what Robinson did on March 13. His 22 rebounds didn’t just generate extra possessions; they eliminated the fast-break opportunities that Indiana lives on. Hart adds a similar element — his instinct for loose balls and transition finishes fueled New York’s 136-point output in the second game.
Defensive Matchups Worth Watching
On the defensive end, both teams present real challenges.
Myles Turner remains one of the league’s premier shot-blockers. His presence in the paint forces every driver to think twice. The Knicks counter with size — Towns in the post, Robinson on the glass, and a perimeter wall built around Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
Indiana’s best defensive performances against New York come when they force turnovers and convert them in transition. In the March 13 game, the Pacers generated 15 steals — but New York still won because they controlled possessions in every other phase.
What to Expect in the Next Matchup
If these teams meet again — and in a potential playoff rematch, they very well might — three factors will likely decide it.
Pace control: Indiana needs to score in the 120s to beat this Knicks team. If New York holds them below 100, it won’t be close.
The rebounding edge: Towns and Robinson combined for 33 rebounds across these two games. If that continues, Indiana simply can’t keep up in the possession battle.
The X-factor: Brunson and Haliburton will likely cancel each other out at the star level. The team that gets a big performance from a secondary player — a Hart, a Walker, a Nesmith — will probably win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the all-time series between the Knicks and Pacers?
New York holds a 105–97 edge in regular-season meetings across 202 games.
What did Jalen Brunson do against Indiana on March 13, 2026?
He finished with 29 points, 9 assists, and 4 rebounds, playing a near-perfect floor game in a road win.
How did Josh Hart perform on March 17, 2026?
Hart scored 33 points on 12-of-13 from the field and went 5-of-5 from three — one of the most efficient individual performances of the season.
Who won the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals?
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Knicks 4–2, advancing to the NBA Finals.
Why is Mitchell Robinson so important in this matchup specifically?
Robinson’s rebounding ability directly neutralizes Indiana’s transition offense. His 22-rebound game on March 13 was a franchise record and effectively shut down Indiana’s second-chance scoring.
Where can I find live Knicks vs Pacers stats during games?
The NBA’s official app and website offer real-time box scores, along with ESPN and CBS Sports for live updates and analysis.
Final Thoughts
The Knicks–Pacers rivalry is one of the most compelling storylines in the Eastern Conference right now. Indiana had the upper hand in last year’s playoffs, but New York has made a clear statement in the regular season — this team is built differently with a healthy core.
The numbers back it up. Brunson commands the offense, Robinson controls the paint, and role players like Hart and Anunoby elevate when it matters most. For the Pacers, it comes back to Haliburton’s health and whether the supporting cast can step up. If both teams meet in the postseason again, it should be one of the best series of the year.
Watch the latest game highlights and drop your prediction below — do the Pacers have another upset in them, or are the Knicks ready to reclaim the East?
About the Author
