If you’re a New York fan, you probably still have nightmares about Reggie Miller’s choke sign or the way Tyrese Haliburton sliced through the defense in the 2024 playoffs. This isn't just another game on the calendar. It’s a decades-old grudge match that somehow feels fresh every single time they tip off. So, if you are asking when do the knicks play the pacers, you aren't just looking for a date; you’re looking for the next chapter of a rivalry that’s currently one of the best in the NBA.
Honestly, the 2025-26 season has already given us some absolute gems between these two. We’ve moved past the "rebuilding" phase for both teams, and now it’s just pure, high-stakes basketball.
The Remaining 2025-2026 Regular Season Matchups
We are deep into the 2026 portion of the schedule now. The early-season jitters are gone. The standings are tightening. If you want to catch Jalen Brunson and Rick Carlisle’s squad go at it, here is exactly when they are hitting the floor for the rest of the regular season.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
- Time: 7:30 PM EST
- What to watch for: This is a massive home game for New York. The Garden is always loud, but against Indiana? It’s different. This is the first time they meet in the 2026 calendar year, and with the playoff race heating up, every possession will feel like June.
Friday, March 13, 2026
- Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
- Time: 7:30 PM EDT
- Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video
- The Vibe: Friday night in Indy. The Pacers have one of the fastest offenses in the league, and they love trying to run the Knicks off the floor in front of their home crowd.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
- Time: 7:30 PM EDT
- Broadcast: MSG Network
- Special Note: St. Patrick’s Day in New York City. The city will already be buzzing, and having the Pacers in town is just gasoline on the fire. This is the final scheduled regular-season meeting, which usually means tiebreaker implications for playoff seeding.
Why This Specific Matchup Stays Tense
You can’t talk about when do the knicks play the pacers without acknowledging the bad blood. It’s not manufactured "NBA drama" for Twitter. It’s real.
Last season, these teams met in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. Think about that for a second. The Knicks managed to win a nail-biter on December 18, 2025, with a 114-113 victory in Indiana. Jalen Brunson dropped 25, but Andrew Nembhard almost stole it with a 31-point performance. That one-point difference is basically the story of this rivalry.
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The Pacers play a style that is almost the polar opposite of Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks. Indiana wants to go 100 miles per hour. They want a track meet. New York? They want to grind you into dust. They want to win 98-95 and make you feel every single bruise. When those two philosophies clash, you get the kind of basketball that makes people stay glued to their seats.
Recent History and Stats
As of early 2026, the all-time series is almost a dead heat. The Knicks hold a razor-thin lead at roughly 127–126. In the regular season, New York usually has the edge, but the Pacers have historically been a thorn in their side come postseason time.
Expert Insight: Watch the rebounding battle. The Knicks' identity is built on second-chance points and toughness. If the Pacers can limit New York to one shot and get out in transition, they win. If Josh Hart is pulling down 15 boards, it’s going to be a long night for Indy.
How to Watch and Ticket Info
If you’re trying to go in person, bring your wallet.
Tickets for the February 10th game at Madison Square Garden are already hovering around a $120 to $180 starting price on secondary markets like SeatGeek and Ticketmaster. If you want to sit anywhere near the floor, you're looking at four figures.
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Indianapolis is a bit more accessible. For the March 13th game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, you can often snag upper-deck seats for under $50 if you buy early enough.
For the home bodies:
- National TV: Keep an eye on the schedule; these games are frequently flexed into national spots on ESPN or TNT because of the ratings they draw.
- Streaming: The March 13th game is slated for Prime Video.
- Local: If you’re in the New York market, it’s almost always on MSG. In Indiana, look for Bally Sports Indiana (or whatever it's evolved into this month).
The Playoff Picture
Let’s be real: the regular season is just a warm-up. Based on how both teams have played through the first half of the 25-26 season, there is a very high probability they meet in the second round or the Eastern Conference Finals again.
The Knicks have bolstered their roster with Mikal Bridges, giving them that elite wing defense they desperately needed against guys like Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin. Meanwhile, the Pacers' chemistry is at an all-time high. They don't care about "star power" as much as they care about the system.
If they do meet in the playoffs, the dates will be determined based on the final standings in April. But for now, circle those February and March dates on your calendar.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify the time: NBA games can sometimes shift by 30 minutes for national TV windows. Double-check the NBA App 24 hours before tip-off.
- Check the injury report: Both teams play a physical style. Whether OG Anunoby or Tyrese Haliburton is active completely changes the betting line and the strategy.
- Budget for the Garden: If you're heading to MSG, remember it's a cashless venue. Download your tickets to your digital wallet before you hit the Penn Station crowds to avoid the dreaded "no signal" panic at the gate.
Finalizing your plans now ensures you won't be scrambling when the highlights start rolling. This isn't a matchup you want to catch on a "Rapid Recap" the next morning. You want to see the intensity live.