The Indiana Pacers are gearing up for their second showdown of the season against the New York Knicks, and the stakes couldn’t be more different for these two franchises as they clash at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The Pacers, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 13-40 record, are searching for answers amid a four-game losing skid. Meanwhile, the Knicks, who have surged to second place in the conference at 35-19, are riding high after winning nine of their last ten games and seem poised to keep their momentum rolling.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and fans are eager to see if the Pacers can flip the script after dropping a heartbreaker to the Knicks back on December 18, 2025. That first meeting was a nail-biter, with New York squeaking by 114-113 thanks to Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead three-pointer and a balanced scoring effort from the Knicks’ supporting cast. For Indiana, Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard combined for 57 points in that contest, but it just wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Fast-forward to February 10, 2026, and the Pacers are limping into this matchup, both figuratively and literally. Their injury report reads like a laundry list of setbacks. Johnny Furphy’s torn right ACL, suffered just a day prior against Toronto, rules him out for the season. Tyrese Haliburton, the team’s star point guard and engine, remains sidelined with an Achilles injury. Obi Toppin (foot), Jarace Walker (illness), and Ivica Zubac (ankle) are all out, with Zubac not expected to make his Pacers debut until after the All-Star break. Quenton Jackson, Taelon Peter, and Ethan Thompson are all listed as questionable, while T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Aaron Nesmith (hand), and Micah Potter (hip) have been upgraded to available for tonight’s game.
Head coach Rick Carlisle has had his hands full trying to piece together a competitive lineup. The loss of Haliburton has been particularly devastating. As one source bluntly put it, “After making the NBA Finals last season, the Pacers have struggled mightily without their star PG, Tyrese Haliburton.” The team’s lack of depth has been exposed, especially against elite competition. Indiana has allowed over 120 points in two of their last three losses and is giving up 118.5 points per game—sixth-most in the NBA. Offensively, the Pacers have also sputtered, lacking the firepower to keep up with high-scoring teams like the Knicks.
On the flip side, the Knicks have been a model of consistency, particularly on their home court. They boast a 21-6 record at Madison Square Garden, the second-best home mark in the league. Their recent 111-89 demolition of the Boston Celtics showcased just how dangerous this team can be when firing on all cylinders. Jalen Brunson, who’s been electric all season, poured in 31 points on 57% shooting in that game and has averaged 27.1 points per contest—good for tenth in the NBA. After a couple of quieter performances, Brunson has exploded for 31 and 42 points in two of his last three outings, reminding everyone why he’s the focal point of New York’s attack.
Karl-Anthony Towns, back in the lineup after a brief absence, has been a double-double machine, averaging 19.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and recording double-doubles in each of his last five appearances. The Knicks made a splash at the trade deadline by acquiring Jose Alvarado from the New Orleans Pelicans, and he wasted no time making an impact—posting 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in his debut against Boston.
The Knicks’ injury report isn’t insignificant, though. OG Anunoby (toe) is out, as are Miles McBride (pelvis) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle). McBride, who underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. In their absence, Alvarado’s role has grown, and head coach Tom Thibodeau is relying on his new point guard to provide energy and defense off the bench. Dillon Jones, a two-way player, is available, while Pacome Dadiet is questionable as he remains with the G League affiliate.
Looking at the betting landscape, the Knicks are heavy favorites. BetMGM lists New York at -625 on the moneyline and -12.5 on the spread, with the over/under set at 225.5 points. The Knicks have covered the spread in nine of their last ten games and in five straight at home. The Pacers, by contrast, are just 1-5 against the spread in their last six road games and have lost three straight both outright and ATS. Twenty of Indiana’s forty losses this season have come by at least twelve points, underscoring just how lopsided some of their defeats have been.
Recent history between these teams also favors New York. The Knicks are 3-2 in their last five meetings with the Pacers at Madison Square Garden, and seven of their last nine victories have come by double digits. The Pacers’ road woes are well-documented, with a dismal 3-22 record away from home and just one win in their last five road games.
Analysts and predictive models are leaning heavily toward the Knicks. The SportsLine Projection Model, after simulating the matchup 10,000 times, projects a combined score of 229 points, with the Over hitting 51% of the time. Pascal Siakam is expected to lead the Pacers with 21.6 points, while Brunson is projected to pace the Knicks with 26.7. The model also gives New York a nearly 70% chance to cover the spread.
But basketball isn’t played on paper, and the Pacers will hope to catch lightning in a bottle. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard have shown they can step up, and with Aaron Nesmith, Micah Potter, and T.J. McConnell available, Indiana will look to cobble together enough offense to keep things interesting. Still, with the Knicks scoring 117.3 points per game (third-most in the NBA) and allowing just 111.8, the odds are stacked against the visitors.
As the Pacers and Knicks tip off at the Garden, all eyes will be on whether Indiana can snap out of its funk and pull off a shocker, or if New York will continue its dominant run toward the All-Star break. Either way, the basketball world will be watching to see if the Pacers can defy expectations—or if the Knicks will simply keep rolling.