Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass
The surging New York Knicks (18-7) visit the struggling Indiana Pacers (6-20) in an Eastern Conference mismatch. New York, riding high in the Atlantic Division and holding the No. 2 seed in the East, looks to extend its win streak against a Pacers team decimated by injuries and mired near the bottom of the conference. This is the first or early meeting of the 2025-26 season between these rivals, with the Knicks heavily favored on the road.
Injury Report (As of Thursday Afternoon – Subject to Updates)
New York Knicks:
OG Anunoby (left knee contusion): Questionable
Josh Hart (rectus abdominus/abdominal strain): Questionable
Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee soreness): Questionable
Mitchell Robinson (ankle): Questionable
Miles McBride (ankle): Out
Core stars like Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and others expected available; depth tested if multiple questionables sit.
Indiana Pacers:
Tyrese Haliburton (right Achilles): Out
Aaron Nesmith (knee): Out
Obi Toppin (hamstring): Out
Ben Sheppard (calf): Out
Kam Jones (back): Questionable
Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, and Bennedict Mathurin likely carry the load; severe depletion explains the poor record.
Pacers severely shorthanded without their All-Star point guard and key wings; Knicks’ questionables could even the talent gap slightly but still favor New York.
Key Player Matchups
Jalen Brunson vs. Pacers Backcourt (Nembhard/Mathurin): Brunson thriving (~28 PPG, elite efficiency) exploits Indiana’s perimeter defense without Haliburton. Expect heavy pick-and-roll attacks.
Karl-Anthony Towns (if active) vs. Myles Turner: KAT’s scoring/rebounding dominance (if he plays) vs. Turner’s rim protection; Towns’ knee soreness key—if out, more on Bridges/Okongwu types.
Mikal Bridges vs. Pascal Siakam: Bridges’ two-way play contains Siakam’s isolation scoring; New York’s length disrupts Indiana’s depleted offense.
Knicks Bench/Depth vs. Pacers Limited Rotation: New York’s superior reserves (e.g., Donte DiVincenzo if available, rookies stepping up) overwhelm Indiana’s injury-thinned bench.
Rebounding Battle: Knicks elite on glass; Pacers vulnerable without Toppin/Nesmith.
Game likely controlled by Knicks’ stars against Pacers’ makeshift lineup—turnovers and second-chance points could decide.
Team Records and Standings Context
New York Knicks: 18-7 (1st Atlantic Division, 2nd Eastern Conference). Playoff lock early; balanced attack and stout defense.
Indiana Pacers: 6-20 (Near bottom of East). Rebuilding struggles amplified by injuries.
Recent Team Form
Knicks: On a six-game winning streak, including blowouts like 132-120 over Orlando (Dec 13) and 124-113 vs. San Antonio (Dec 16). Dominant offense (top-10 scoring) and improving defense; road warriors lately.
Pacers: Slumping with multiple losses, including a 108-89 home defeat to Washington (Dec 14) ending a home scoring streak. Offensive struggles without Haliburton; recent games low-scoring and inconsistent.
Knicks enter hot and confident; Pacers desperate for a spark at home but hampered severely.
Series History
All-Time Regular Season: Knicks lead 102-96.
Recent (Last 10): Competitive, with Knicks holding slight edge in regular season but memorable playoff battles (Knicks won 2024 semis).
2025-26 Season: Early meeting (possibly first); historical rivalry intense, but current form heavily favors New York.
At Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Pacers tough historically at home, but injuries flip the script.
Betting Trends
Knicks strong ATS on road (covering in recent streak); public heavily on New York ML/spread due to mismatch.
Pacers poor as home underdogs; unders hitting in Indiana games lately (e.g., recent low-output losses).
Over volume early but shifting to under with Haliburton out and defensive focus expected.
Knicks excellent vs. sub-.500 teams; sharps leaning Knicks covering but cautious on total.
Game Odds
New York Knicks – 4.5
Indiana Pacers 225.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 17, 2025
