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Knicks at Pacers: an interior test opens their NBA Cup matchup

Indiana has just won at home for the first time this season by taking control in the paint. New York arrives after a loss to Cleveland ended its four-game winning streak. Their first NBA Cup meeting brings Ivica Zubac and Karl-Anthony Towns into a contest where second-chance possessions could shape the result.

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Exterior of Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with the arena name visible.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the Pacers’ home arena. File photograph. © Sarah Stierch / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
  • Competition: 2026-27 NBA season, Emirates NBA Cup group play, East Group B.
  • Matchup: New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers.
  • Scheduled game time: Friday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. EST in Indianapolis and New York; Saturday, November 14, at 00:00 UTC.
  • Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indiana found a route to the basket

The Pacers are 4-8 after beating Washington 114-101 on Wednesday, November 11. The game was tied at 77 after three quarters, but Indiana scored the first 14 points of the fourth to claim its first home win of the season. Pascal Siakam had 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists; Zubac finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and ten assists.

The difference on the offensive glass from Indiana's previous game is striking. The Pacers collected just one offensive rebound in a loss at Dallas, then grabbed 14 against the Wizards and scored 60 points in the paint. One game does not establish a trend. It does, however, identify the pressure they can apply to Towns and the Knicks: extend possessions, secure the ball after misses and make New York defend close to the rim.

T. J. McConnell played his third game of the season and supplied seven assists in 13 minutes. His return gives Indiana another ballhandler, although no playing-time plan for Friday has been announced. Aaron Nesmith left the Washington game in the third quarter with right knee soreness and did not return. He has not yet been given an official designation for the Knicks game.

New York needs more than Brunson and Towns

The Knicks are 6-5 following Wednesday's 115-107 defeat to Cleveland. Jalen Brunson scored 27 points, and Towns contributed 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. The loss ended a four-game winning run that included Tuesday's 117-85 victory over Milwaukee, when Brunson scored 23 and Towns had 21 points and 16 rebounds.

Towns' ability to pass as well as score poses a different problem for Indiana's defense. If Zubac stays near the basket to protect the glass, New York can use Towns to distribute from farther out; if he follows Towns, space can open behind him. These are possible tactical choices, not plans announced by either coach. At the other end, Siakam and Nembhard created openings against Washington. The Knicks will have to prevent an initial defensive rotation from becoming another Zubac offensive rebound.

The game is part of East Group B alongside Cleveland, Philadelphia and Miami. New York is the defending NBA Cup champion, but Friday's result will settle only one part of group play, not qualification by itself.

Player availability

The NBA's official injury report at 2:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, November 12 still marked both teams as not yet submitted for this game. That is not a declaration of a clean bill of health.

New York Knicks

  • Roster: the team had not yet submitted its game-specific report for Knicks-Pacers in the edition cited above.

Indiana Pacers

  • Aaron Nesmith: left Wednesday's game because of right knee soreness; no official Friday designation has been issued.
  • T. J. McConnell: played 13 minutes on Wednesday in his third game back; no Friday status or minutes limit has been announced.
  • Roster: Indiana had not yet submitted its game-specific report in the edition cited above. Tyrese Haliburton, Johnny Furphy and Ben Sheppard were listed as out for the previous game; that designation cannot be carried over to Friday automatically.

How to watch Knicks-Pacers

  • Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.
  • Date and time: Friday, November 13, 7:00 p.m. EST scheduled game time; Prime Video's U.S. coverage is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. EST.

United States — Friday, 7:00 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. PST

  • TV: no linear channel is confirmed for this game on the official listing consulted.
  • Streaming: Prime Video lists the live game and a pregame program beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST.

United Kingdom — Saturday, 12:00 a.m. GMT

  • TV and streaming: a market-specific live listing for this game has not been confirmed.

Australia — Saturday, 8:00 a.m. AWST (Perth), 10:00 a.m. AEST (Brisbane), 11:00 a.m. AEDT (Sydney)

  • TV and streaming: a market-specific live listing for this game has not been confirmed.

Indiana showed against Washington how quickly it can change a game with offensive rebounds. Friday will show whether it can repeat that against Towns while keeping Brunson from dictating the first action of each possession.