It was December 18, 2025. Gainbridge Fieldhouse was vibrating. Jalen Brunson had just buried a fadeaway three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Knicks a 114-113 win. It felt like another normal night in the NBA, but for anyone who’s watched knicks vs pacers matches over the last thirty years, it was anything but normal.
It was a reminder that this matchup is essentially a grudge match that never actually ended.
💡 You might also like: Kareem Hunt Career Stats: Why He is More Than Just a Goal-Line Hammer
Why Knicks vs Pacers Matches Are Just Different
Some rivalries are built on mutual respect. This one? Honestly, it’s built on a very specific kind of Midwestern-meets-Manhattan loathing. If you grew up in the 90s, you remember Reggie Miller giving the choke sign to Spike Lee. You remember Patrick Ewing’s sweat-soaked jerseys and the physical, almost violent brand of basketball that defined the Eastern Conference.
But things changed.
The rivalry went dormant for a while as both teams struggled through rebuilding years that felt like decades. Then came the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals. That series didn't just reignite the flame; it doused it in gasoline.
The Pacers took that series in seven games, winning Game 7 at Madison Square Garden in a blowout that left the New York crowd in stunned silence. Tyrese Haliburton wore a hoodie with Reggie Miller’s choke sign on it. That’s not just a fashion choice. That is a declaration of war.
Then came the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals.
The 2025 ECF Rematch
Most people expected the Knicks to roll. They had added Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. They looked like a juggernaut. But the Pacers, led by Rick Carlisle and a relentless Pascal Siakam, refused to play the role of the underdog.
The series was a masterclass in modern basketball—high pace, high scoring, and zero love lost. Indiana eventually took the series 4-2, advancing to the Finals for the first time since 2000.
- Game 1 (May 21, 2025): Indiana stuns the Garden with a 138-135 overtime win.
- Game 3 (May 25, 2025): New York claws back with a 106-100 defensive slugfest in Indy.
- Game 6 (May 31, 2025): Siakam drops 31 points to close out the Knicks 125-108.
Basically, the Pacers have become the Knicks' personal "big bad" of the 2020s.
The Statistical Reality of the Matchup
If you look at the all-time numbers, it's spooky how close these two franchises are. As of January 2026, the Knicks hold a razor-thin lead in the all-time regular-season series at 103-96. But in the playoffs? The Pacers have the upper hand, leading the postseason head-to-head 30-24.
That matters.
💡 You might also like: Dave Mirra Last Photo: The Tragic Reality Behind the Image
In New York, regular-season wins are nice, but playoff losses to Indiana are scars. The 2024 and 2025 eliminations have created a pressure cooker for the next time these teams meet.
Recent Results (2024-2026)
| Date | Winner | Score | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2025 | New York | 114-113 | Jalen Brunson (25 pts, Game-winner) |
| May 31, 2025 | Indiana | 125-108 | Pascal Siakam (31 pts) |
| Feb 11, 2025 | New York | 128-115 | Jalen Brunson (40+ pts) |
| Nov 10, 2024 | Indiana | 132-121 | Tyrese Haliburton (35 pts) |
The scoring has skyrocketed. In the 90s, a 92-88 score was common. Now? If both teams don't hit 115, it feels like an off night. The pace orchestrated by Haliburton forces the Knicks to play a style that's uncomfortable for Tom Thibodeau’s defensive-first philosophy.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Current Rivalry
There’s a common misconception that the Knicks are "tougher" and the Pacers are "softer but faster." That’s outdated.
Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner have turned Indiana into a legitimate interior threat. Turner’s ability to stretch the floor while leading the league in blocks at various points has made life miserable for New York’s bigs. Meanwhile, the Knicks have transitioned from a team that purely grinds to one that can actually shoot you out of the gym.
Adding Karl-Anthony Towns changed everything.
Towns provides a spacing element that Patrick Ewing never had to deal with. It forces the Pacers to pull Turner out of the paint, which opens up lanes for Brunson to do his mid-range dance.
The games aren't just about who hits more shots anymore. They are about who can force the other team to abandon their identity first. When the Pacers play at their "100 miles per hour" pace, the Knicks often gas out by the fourth quarter. When the Knicks can slow the game down to a crawl and hunt for offensive rebounds, Indiana gets frustrated.
Key Players to Watch in 2026
If you’re betting on or just watching the next round of knicks vs pacers matches, focus on these specific matchups:
1. Jalen Brunson vs. Andrew Nembhard
Nembhard has become a sort of "Brunson-stopper" in the eyes of Pacers fans. He’s physical, he’s younger, and he doesn’t bite on every pump fake. Brunson still gets his numbers, but Nembhard makes him work for every single inch of hardwood.
2. Tyrese Haliburton vs. The Garden Crowd
It’s psychological. Haliburton clearly loves being the villain. He plays better when the boos are loudest. His ability to thread a needle with a pass while smiling at Spike Lee is peak theater.
3. OG Anunoby’s Health
When OG is on the floor, the Knicks are a different beast. His ability to switch onto Siakam or Haliburton is the only reason the Knicks stayed in the 2025 series as long as they did. If he’s out, the Knicks' defense collapses like a house of cards.
How to Follow the Next Chapter
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on February 10, 2026. This isn't just a regular-season game; it’s a seeding battle. With the Eastern Conference as top-heavy as it is, home-court advantage is the difference between a trip to the Finals and an early summer.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Offensive Rebounds: If the Knicks are plus-10 in rebounds, they almost always win. If it’s even, Indiana’s transition game will kill them.
- The Three-Point Variance: Indiana takes more "bad" threes that go in. New York takes more "calculated" threes. Watch the first quarter; if Indy hits four early triples, the Knicks will likely panic and abandon their post-up game.
- Venue Matters: Despite the 2024 Game 7 collapse, the Knicks are still significantly better at home. The Pacers, however, have shown a weirdly high comfort level at MSG lately, winning three of their last five there.
This isn't just about basketball. It’s about a forty-year-old story that keeps getting new, weirder chapters. The names on the jerseys change—from Miller and Ewing to Haliburton and Brunson—but the intensity stays exactly the same.
Stay tuned for the February matchup. Based on the 114-113 thriller in December, we’re in for another classic.
👉 See also: Spain vs Netherlands UEFA Nations League: What Really Happened in the Quarter-Finals
Check the official NBA schedule for local broadcast times, as these games are almost always flexed into national TV spots. If you're heading to Gainbridge or the Garden, get there early. The atmosphere for these specific matches starts well before tip-off.