The Pacers' struggles reached a historic low as they extended their losing streak to 14 games with a 136-110 defeat to the Knicks. Despite their offensive efforts, the Pacers continue to falter defensively, consistently allowing opponents to score over 130 points.
In their visit to Madison Square Garden, the Pacers managed to field 11 players despite a lengthy injury list. Their offense clicked in the first half, hitting 11 of 18 from beyond the arc to stay competitive.
However, lapses at the end of each quarter left them trailing by eight at halftime. The Knicks extended their lead to 14 by the end of the third quarter, and cruised to victory in the fourth.
With Jalen Brunson sidelined due to an ankle injury, Josh Hart stepped up for the Knicks, delivering an impressive performance with 33 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. His scoring burst at the end of the first half gave the Knicks a solid cushion going into the break.
For the Pacers, Jarace Walker and Kobe Brown took on significant roles with Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam absent. Walker contributed 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Brown posted 13 points, fueled by a strong first half from deep.
Aaron Nesmith, Ivica Zubac, and TJ McConnell started but saw limited action in the second half. McConnell recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists in just 19 minutes, while Nesmith added 14 points, hitting 4 of 6 from downtown.
Looking ahead, the Pacers face the Trail Blazers at home in the second game of a back-to-back. The Blazers, who are on a tight schedule themselves, are fighting for a play-in spot in the West. They sit in 10th place, just a game and a half behind the eighth-place Clippers.
The Pacers' injury list remains extensive, with several players listed as questionable. As the team with the league's worst record, they face a challenging schedule, including matchups against the Spurs, Magic, Lakers, Clippers, and Heat, all teams showing positive momentum.
Pacers vs. Trail Blazers
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- When: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - 7:30 p.m.
ET
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network
- Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan
- Odds: Pacers +10.5
Projected Starters:
- Pacers: TJ McConnell, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Kobe Brown, Ivica Zubac
- Trail Blazers: Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant, Donovan Clingan
Injuries:
- Pacers: Ivica Zubac (ankle) - questionable, Aaron Nesmith (ankle) - questionable, Andrew Nembhard (back) - questionable, TJ McConnell (hammy) - questionable, Obi Toppin (foot) - questionable, Quentin Jackson (calf) - questionable, Ben Sheppard (ankle) - questionable, Micah Potter (triceps) - questionable, Pascal Siakam (knee) - doubtful, Johnny Furphy (knee) - out, Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) - out
As the Pacers aim to break their losing streak, they'll need to tighten up defensively and hope for some injury relief to compete against a Blazers team vying for playoff positioning.