Pacers' Rivalry With Knicks Ranks Among the NBA's Best This Season

Last season, the Indiana Pacers suffered through a brutal year following the torn Achilles suffered by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton in Game 7 of the NBA Finals the year before. Despite the long year, the team is back as a championship contender in 2026-27.

The previous two years saw the Pacers make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals and then an NBA Finals appearance. In both seasons, Indiana eliminated the New York Knicks in the conference finals.

For years, the rivalry between Indiana and the Knicks was quiet. Back in the Reggie Miller days, the rivalry was among the best in the NBA.

With that being said, the rivalry is back. Both teams dislike each other and their playoff run-ins have been must-watch basketball. But, where does the rivalry rank among the best in the league currently?

ESPN recently took a look at the top NBA rivalries heading into the 2026-27 season. When it came to Pacers-Knicks, they ranked the rivalry No. 4.

"Both fanbases can point to injuries to downplay the other's accomplishments. A Knicks faithful might say that Indiana only won in 2024 because New York's roster was so injured; Pacers fans might contend that the Knicks' title run was possible because Haliburton's right Achilles tear meant New York didn't have to worry about them in the postseason," ESPN wrote.

"That back-and-forth chatter serves to heighten this rivalry, which should recommence with Haliburton healthy this season and both teams angling to return to the Finals."

Heading into the upcoming NBA season, Indiana is looking to get back on track. In order to pick up where the Pacers left off two years ago, they will need to go through the Knicks.

Of course, Jalen Brunson and New York won the NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs last season. It was the Knicks' first title since 1973.

Looking at the schedule, the two teams are set to face off three times. They will play each other for the first time on November 13 in Indiana and then will play again on November 22 in New York. Finally, they will face off to close out the regular season on April 11 at Madison Square Garden.

It will be interesting to see how the two teams match up. Should it be anything like the playoffs a couple of years back, fans will be in for a treat.

At the end of the day, a healthy rivalry between the Pacers and Knicks is good news for the NBA. Seeing the rivalry reborn has been exciting for both fan bases.