On Tuesday night, the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks (in Madison Square Garden, nonetheless) by a score of 137-134 in an overtime thriller. This game had 39 lead changes, which is the most of any NBA game so far this season, and it was an incredible showing from the Pacers, who snapped their four-game losing streak.
Heading into the game, New York had won nine of its last 10 games, whereas the Pacers had a 13-40 record, the second-worst in the league. However, just like they proved to the entire basketball world in the last two seasons, they won’t back down from any challenge. And they’re not scared of anybody.
The Pacers’ resilience and chemistry will lead to long-term success
One of the reasons the Pacers were such a fun team to watch over the past few years was the fact that they always rose to the occasion.
In 2024, they made it all the way to the conference finals for the first time in a decade despite being the No. 6 seed, and they played the eventual champion Boston Celtics closer than anybody else did during their run.
And last season, they made it to the NBA Finals for the first time in over two decades and eliminated Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Knicks to get their. (And if Tyrese Haliburton doesn’t go down in Game 7, maybe they eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder and their historic defense in the finals, too).
Even in a down year like this one, it’s a welcoming sign that this part of the Pacers’ brand hasn’t gone away. They will still rise to the occasion and pull off upsets when everybody least expects it.
A lot of that has to do with the system. Their fast-paced, run-and-gun style wears out opponents very easily, which works best for them in the long run. Additionally, because everyone on the roster is bought into the system, they play incredibly well alongside each other.
This has worked for them in recent years, and if Indiana is serious about re-establishing itself as a title contender, this is going to be an emphasis moving forward.
The Pacers have a talented roster with high upside and a great coaching staff and front office, but none of that matters if they’re not giving it their all on the court. However, if their game against New York was any indication, it’s safe to say this won’t be a problem moving forward.