The Indiana Pacers fell to the New York Knicks in a game Friday, March 13, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n
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Video Transcript<\/p>\n
Hey everybody, Pacers beat writer Dustin Dopirak back here at Gamebridge Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n
Hey everybody, Pacers beat writer Dustin Dopirak back here at Gamebridge Fieldhouse.<\/p>\n
Pacers lose 12 straight, 101-92 final to the Knicks.<\/p>\n
Pacers lose 12 straight, 101-92 final to the Knicks.<\/p>\n
Some real fight in this one.<\/p>\n
Some real fight in this one.<\/p>\n
You got to give them some credit for that.<\/p>\n
You got to give them some credit for that.<\/p>\n
Obviously, it’s been some brutal stretches of basketball games.<\/p>\n
Obviously, it’s been some brutal stretches of basketball games.<\/p>\n
In this case, they played most of their guys.<\/p>\n
In this case, they played most of their guys.<\/p>\n
Pascal Siakam still out, apparently with a legit right knee sprain.<\/p>\n
Pascal Siakam still out, apparently with a legit right knee sprain.<\/p>\n
Quentin Jackson still out.<\/p>\n
Quentin Jackson still out.<\/p>\n
Obviously, Furphy and Halliburton are done for the year.<\/p>\n
Obviously, Furphy and Halliburton are done for the year.<\/p>\n
But they brought a lot of the other guys back for this one to get their first time working with Avicha Zubac.<\/p>\n
But they brought a lot of the other guys back for this one to get their first time working with Avicha Zubac.<\/p>\n
Aaron Nesmith played in this one.<\/p>\n
Aaron Nesmith played in this one.<\/p>\n
TJ McConnell played in this one.<\/p>\n
TJ McConnell played in this one.<\/p>\n
Nembhard played again.<\/p>\n
Nembhard played again.<\/p>\n
Obi Toppin played in this one.<\/p>\n
Obi Toppin played in this one.<\/p>\n
All of them got some good minutes with Zubac.<\/p>\n
All of them got some good minutes with Zubac.<\/p>\n
He played 29 minutes, but even the groups that weren’t operating with him showed some real fight, especially the second unit in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
He played 29 minutes, but even the groups that weren’t operating with him showed some real fight, especially the second unit in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Pacers won that quarter 29-20, got within two points at one point in that period.<\/p>\n
Pacers won that quarter 29-20, got within two points at one point in that period.<\/p>\n
Pacers were still within four with about two minutes to go before Michael Bridges hit a three and then Ananobi got a dunk layup.<\/p>\n
Pacers were still within four with about two minutes to go before Michael Bridges hit a three and then Ananobi got a dunk layup.<\/p>\n
I can’t remember if it was a three-point play or not, but that kind of turned the game pretty fast.<\/p>\n
I can’t remember if it was a three-point play or not, but that kind of turned the game pretty fast.<\/p>\n
Well, I’m saying they were in it until the last couple minutes, and that’s not something they’ve been able to say about a lot of these games lately.<\/p>\n
Well, I’m saying they were in it until the last couple minutes, and that’s not something they’ve been able to say about a lot of these games lately.<\/p>\n
So, you know, some good action there.<\/p>\n
So, you know, some good action there.<\/p>\n
Rick Carlum made a point both in an interesting pregame preamble, I guess, you know, talking about making sure everybody understands that they’re in touch with the league in terms of who plays and who doesn’t, sort of addressing the whole tanking, what’s illegal, what are they going to get fined for perspective.<\/p>\n
Rick Carlum made a point both in an interesting pregame preamble, I guess, you know, talking about making sure everybody understands that they’re in touch with the league in terms of who plays and who doesn’t, sort of addressing the whole tanking, what’s illegal, what are they going to get fined for perspective.<\/p>\n
But one thing he made a point of saying is that it is a real push, a real goal as far as he is concerned to get Zubac integrated with this group, to get a lot of these guys opportunities to play with him and him to get opportunities to play with everybody just to get a sense of what this looks like.<\/p>\n
But one thing he made a point of saying is that it is a real push, a real goal as far as he is concerned to get Zubac integrated with this group, to get a lot of these guys opportunities to play with him and him to get opportunities to play with everybody just to get a sense of what this looks like.<\/p>\n
Because next year, he is their starting center.<\/p>\n
Because next year, he is their starting center.<\/p>\n
He’s the guy.<\/p>\n
He’s the guy.<\/p>\n
You know, he’s got to hold down that position as they move forward.<\/p>\n
You know, he’s got to hold down that position as they move forward.<\/p>\n
So, they need to understand how to operate with him.<\/p>\n
So, they need to understand how to operate with him.<\/p>\n
He needs to understand how to operate with them.<\/p>\n
He needs to understand how to operate with them.<\/p>\n
You know, saw some good moments there.<\/p>\n
You know, saw some good moments there.<\/p>\n
I mean, he wasn’t perfect.<\/p>\n
I mean, he wasn’t perfect.<\/p>\n
11 points on five and nine shooting, eight rebounds and assists.<\/p>\n
11 points on five and nine shooting, eight rebounds and assists.<\/p>\n
The steal block had some good moments.<\/p>\n
The steal block had some good moments.<\/p>\n
But Mitchell Robinson gave him some real problems.<\/p>\n
But Mitchell Robinson gave him some real problems.<\/p>\n
Robinson had 22 rebounds, nine on the offensive glass.<\/p>\n
Robinson had 22 rebounds, nine on the offensive glass.<\/p>\n
So, some not great moments there.<\/p>\n
So, some not great moments there.<\/p>\n
Just as a group, the starters, Zubac was minus 12.<\/p>\n
Just as a group, the starters, Zubac was minus 12.<\/p>\n
Nesmith was minus 17.<\/p>\n
Nesmith was minus 17.<\/p>\n
Nembhard was minus 14.<\/p>\n
Nembhard was minus 14.<\/p>\n
You know, Jairus Walker had some good moments, 18 points, nine rebounds.<\/p>\n
You know, Jairus Walker had some good moments, 18 points, nine rebounds.<\/p>\n
But they had some struggles with that starting group.<\/p>\n
But they had some struggles with that starting group.<\/p>\n
But, you know, you see how they can work together.<\/p>\n
But, you know, you see how they can work together.<\/p>\n
Zubac feels pretty good about how they’re operating.<\/p>\n
Zubac feels pretty good about how they’re operating.<\/p>\n
He’s obviously able to set some really good screens and, you know, get a sense of how to get some space for other players, but also how he gets some space off of those and moving to the basket and that sort of thing.<\/p>\n
He’s obviously able to set some really good screens and, you know, get a sense of how to get some space for other players, but also how he gets some space off of those and moving to the basket and that sort of thing.<\/p>\n
So, you’ve seen some progress there.<\/p>\n
So, you’ve seen some progress there.<\/p>\n
And that’s really all that matters at this point.<\/p>\n
And that’s really all that matters at this point.<\/p>\n
On one hand, losing games, not a big issue.<\/p>\n
On one hand, losing games, not a big issue.<\/p>\n
They’re kind of better off losing games.<\/p>\n
They’re kind of better off losing games.<\/p>\n
They’re 12 in a row, haven’t won since the All-Star break, 15-52, worst record in the league.<\/p>\n
They’re 12 in a row, haven’t won since the All-Star break, 15-52, worst record in the league.<\/p>\n
But obviously they’re going for draft lottery positions, so worst record in the league isn’t a bad thing.<\/p>\n
But obviously they’re going for draft lottery positions, so worst record in the league isn’t a bad thing.<\/p>\n
Rough scenario, they could be, you know, they are closing in on having the worst record in franchise history.<\/p>\n
Rough scenario, they could be, you know, they are closing in on having the worst record in franchise history.<\/p>\n
They are also closing in on breaking the record for consecutive losses for the franchise, which they set earlier this year with 13.<\/p>\n
They are also closing in on breaking the record for consecutive losses for the franchise, which they set earlier this year with 13.<\/p>\n
So, they’re close to hitting that again, twice in the same season.<\/p>\n
So, they’re close to hitting that again, twice in the same season.<\/p>\n
But again, that’s how this one goes.<\/p>\n
But again, that’s how this one goes.<\/p>\n
That’s how this season has gone.<\/p>\n
That’s how this season has gone.<\/p>\n
So, anyway, they go to Milwaukee on Sunday.<\/p>\n
So, anyway, they go to Milwaukee on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Zubac versus Turner, so that’ll be an intriguing one.<\/p>\n
Zubac versus Turner, so that’ll be an intriguing one.<\/p>\n
And I’ll be out there, so come check us out.<\/p>\n
And I’ll be out there, so come check us out.<\/p>\n
Thanks as always.<\/p>\n
Thanks as always.<\/p>\n