S³ NBA COVERAGE | November 14, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — The Indiana Pacers had every reason to believe they had this game under control.
They had established a double-digit advantage, frustrated the New York Knicks offensively and appeared headed toward a comfortable victory.
Then everything nearly fell apart.
Indiana survived a furious New York comeback Friday night, escaping with a 106–104 victory in Emirates NBA Cup competition at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, Aaron Nesmith added 18, and the Pacers secured their second consecutive victory despite failing to score over the final 1:49.
Jalen Brunson delivered 33 points and 11 assists for New York, but the Knicks couldn't complete the comeback.
Karl-Anthony Towns missed a potential game-tying jumper as time expired, allowing Indiana to escape with a victory that was much closer than it should have been.
The Pacers improved to 5–8, while the defending NBA champion Knicks fell to 6–6.
Indiana Takes Control
The opening quarter suggested a competitive matchup.
New York established a narrow 27–26 advantage behind its offensive execution, but Indiana began gaining momentum during the second period.
Siakam attacked the defense, drew fouls and helped the Pacers establish control.
Indiana outscored New York 32–22 in the second quarter to enter halftime leading 58–49.
The Pacers' advantage wasn't built around one dominant scorer.
It came from balanced offensive production, physical defense and contributions throughout the rotation.
Nesmith provided perimeter scoring and aggressive drives, while Ivica Zubac controlled the interior.
Indiana eventually extended its lead to 14 points during the third quarter.
But the Knicks refused to disappear.
Brunson Leads the Knicks' Comeback
Jalen Brunson was New York's most reliable offensive weapon.
The Knicks guard finished with:
- 33 points
- 11 assists
- 4 three-pointers
- 11-of-22 field-goal shooting
Brunson scored 16 points during the third quarter, helping New York erase most of Indiana's advantage.
The Knicks finished the period on a 15–2 run, cutting the Pacers' lead to 85–84.
What had appeared to be a comfortable Indiana victory was suddenly a one-possession game.
Brunson repeatedly created opportunities through penetration, midrange shooting and his ability to force defensive adjustments.
But Indiana had another answer.
Pacers Turn to Defense
Early in the fourth quarter, the Knicks tied the game at 87.
Indiana responded with its most important defensive stretch of the night.
The Pacers held New York to just two points over the next four minutes and 45 seconds while scoring 15 of their own.
That defensive effort included 10 stops, three steals and a blocked shot.
Suddenly, Indiana held a 102–89 advantage with just over six minutes remaining.
The Pacers had reestablished control without relying on extraordinary individual scoring.
Their defense created the separation.
And for much of the fourth quarter, that appeared to be enough.
The Final Two Minutes: Indiana Nearly Gives It Away
With 1:49 remaining, Siakam connected on a turnaround jumper to extend Indiana's advantage to 106–98.
Eight points.
Less than two minutes.
The Pacers were positioned to close out the game.
Instead, their offense went silent.
New York increased its defensive pressure and forced Indiana into uncomfortable possessions.
Brunson converted a driving layup with 26 seconds remaining, reducing the deficit to four points.
Siakam then stepped to the free-throw line with an opportunity to restore Indiana's advantage.
He missed both attempts.
Mikal Bridges scored with approximately 10 seconds remaining, bringing New York within two points.
The Pacers still controlled their destiny.
But another mistake gave the Knicks one final opportunity.
Indiana committed an inbounds turnover with 2.8 seconds left.
New York had the basketball and a chance to force overtime.
Towns received the final opportunity, attempting a contested turnaround jumper from approximately 15 feet.
The shot missed as time expired.
Indiana 106. New York 104.
The Pacers survived.
But their inability to finish the game offensively nearly cost them a victory they had worked hard to establish.
Siakam Leads a Balanced Indiana Attack
Siakam's 19 points led the Pacers, but Indiana's offensive balance was more important than any individual performance.
| Pacers Player | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pascal Siakam | 19 | 3 | 2 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 18 | 7 | 1 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Ivica Zubac | 12 | 13 | 1 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 12 | 4 | 6 |
Five Indiana starters scored in double figures.
Zubac's 13 rebounds helped establish the Pacers' advantage around the basket, while Nesmith delivered timely scoring throughout the game.
T.J. McConnell also contributed seven assists off the bench, helping Indiana maintain offensive organization when the starters rested.
The Pacers demonstrated the value of having multiple players capable of contributing.
No Indiana player scored 20 points.
Yet the Pacers still defeated a New York team featuring three players who scored at least 18.
Towns Delivers, but the Final Shot Falls Short
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.
He also recorded three steals, contributing on both ends of the floor.
Mikal Bridges added 18 points, while OG Anunoby scored 11.
New York received excellent production from Brunson and Towns.
But the supporting offense wasn't consistent enough.
Josh Hart finished scoreless in 23 minutes, missing all four of his field-goal attempts.
The Knicks also struggled to finish around the basket despite Brunson's ability to create opportunities.
Their offensive production depended heavily on individual performances rather than sustained collective execution.
And when they needed one final basket, they couldn't produce it.
S³ Statistical Breakdown
| Category | Knicks | Pacers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 104 | 106 |
| Field Goal % | 43% | 43% |
| Three-Point % | 35% | 34% |
| Free Throw % | 77% | 72% |
| Player Rebounds | 43 | 50 |
| Assists | 28 | 23 |
| Steals | 11 | 6 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 15 |
| Points in Paint | 30 | 50 |
| Fast-Break Points | 14 | 9 |
S³ Analysis: The Paint Decided the Game
The most revealing statistic was Indiana's 50–30 advantage in points in the paint.
Both teams shot approximately 43% from the field.
New York actually held slight advantages in three-point shooting, free-throw percentage, assists, steals and turnovers.
But Indiana controlled the interior.
The Pacers outscored the Knicks by 20 points in the paint and collected seven more player rebounds.
That advantage reflects Indiana's willingness to attack the basket, use its size and create high-percentage opportunities.
Zubac's presence was especially important.
While Towns produced an impressive double-double, Indiana's collective interior production gave the Pacers an advantage that New York struggled to overcome.
The Knicks made more three-pointers, finishing with 16 compared with Indiana's 10.
But Indiana compensated by attacking inside and earning more opportunities at the free-throw line.
New York won several perimeter categories. Indiana controlled the interior.
And in a game decided by two points, that distinction mattered.
S³ Final Assessment: A Win That Exposes Two Problems
The Pacers deserve credit for their defensive effort.
They held a talented New York offense to 104 points and produced the fourth-quarter defensive stretch that ultimately separated the teams.
But Indiana's closing execution was concerning.
The Pacers failed to score over the final 1:49, missed critical free throws and committed an inbounds turnover that gave New York an opportunity to force overtime.
A better finish would have eliminated the drama.
For the Knicks, the concerns are different.
Brunson delivered 33 points and 11 assists. Towns added 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Those are winning-caliber individual performances.
Yet New York fell behind by double digits multiple times and needed a frantic late comeback just to create an opportunity to tie.
The Knicks also struggled to match Indiana's physicality around the basket.
For a defending championship team sitting at 6–6, that inconsistency deserves attention.
S³ Verdict
Indiana's Biggest Strength: Defensive intensity and interior production.
Indiana's Biggest Concern: Late-game execution, particularly missed free throws and unnecessary turnovers.
New York's Best Performer: Jalen Brunson, 33 points and 11 assists.
The Deciding Factor: Indiana's 20-point advantage in the paint and its ability to create separation through fourth-quarter defense.
The Pacers earned the victory, but nearly gave it away.
The Knicks demonstrated resilience, but couldn't complete the comeback.
Indiana controlled most of the game. New York controlled the drama.
And when the final shot missed, the Pacers were the ones celebrating.
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