The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks meet Friday night in Indianapolis for the first of three matchups in the 2026-2027 season, opening a series that already carries the feel of a measuring-stick game. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Pacers will try to slow a Knicks team that has been better than its 6-5 record suggests.
That is why the search is happening now: this is not just another regular-season date, but the first time these teams will see each other this season, with the Knicks holding a 3-1 edge from last year’s meetings and a long history that still leans toward New York. Indiana is 97-105 all-time against the Knicks in the regular season, but the split at home has been far better, with the Pacers going 64-38 in Indianapolis and 33-67 on the road.
For New York, the focus lands on Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 26 points, five assists and three rebounds, because the Knicks’ offense usually follows his pace. Indiana has its own answer in Andrew Nembhard, who is averaging 17 points, 7.8 assists and two rebounds, and the matchup between those two backcourt engines may shape how much control either side has over the night. The broadcast options listed are Prime Video, DAZN-MSG and Fubo, with radio coverage available in Indiana and New York.
The Knicks’ recent form is part of the reason this game matters beyond the calendar. They lost their first three games, have since won six of their last eight, and are coming off a 115-107 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pacers, meanwhile, arrived at 4-8 after beating the Washington Wizards 114-101 in their most recent game, with Pascal Siakam finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal and Ivica Zubac adding 20 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
The spread reflects that split view of the teams, with the Pacers at +8.5 and the Knicks at -8.5, both listed at -110. In plain terms, the market is asking whether Indiana can make this closer than New York’s record and recent surge would suggest, or whether the Knicks can turn their edge into a clean road result. Friday gives the first answer, and it starts before the season series can settle into anything more familiar.
