The Indiana Pacers walked into Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night and walked out with a statement win - a 137-134 overtime thriller over the red-hot New York Knicks. This one had everything: 39 lead changes (the most in any NBA game this season), electric shot-making, and a reminder that no matter what their record says, the Pacers are not a team to take lightly.
Let’s set the stage. New York had been rolling - winners of nine of their last ten - while Indiana came in with a 13-40 record, second-worst in the league.
On paper, this should’ve been a Knicks win. But the Pacers didn’t get the memo.
Instead, they delivered a gutsy, high-octane performance that snapped their four-game skid and reminded everyone of what’s made this team so compelling over the past few seasons.
The Pacers’ Identity: Resilience, Speed, and Unselfishness
What stood out wasn’t just the win - it was how Indiana got it. This is a team that thrives on pace, ball movement, and a collective buy-in that shows up in the big moments. That identity has carried them through deep postseason runs in recent years, and even in a down year, it’s still very much alive.
Think back to 2024, when they made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals as a No. 6 seed and gave the eventual champion Celtics their toughest test of the playoffs. Or last season, when they made it all the way to the NBA Finals for the first time in over 20 years, knocking off Giannis and the Bucks, the top-seeded Cavaliers, and yes - the Knicks - along the way. That run ended in heartbreak against the Thunder, but who knows what might’ve happened if Tyrese Haliburton hadn’t gone down in Game 7?
That’s the kind of DNA this team has. They don’t just show up - they rise to the moment.
A System That Still Works
Much of Indiana’s success comes down to the system. Their up-tempo, run-and-gun style is designed to wear teams down, and when it’s clicking, it’s hard to keep up.
What makes it work isn’t just the pace - it’s the cohesion. Everyone knows their role, and everyone buys in.
That kind of chemistry doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s been built over time, and even during a tough season like this one, it’s still a competitive advantage.
That system has been a staple of their identity during their recent playoff runs, and it’s the kind of foundation that can lead to long-term success - especially when you factor in the talent on the roster, the coaching staff’s ability to adapt, and a front office that’s shown it knows how to build a contender.
Bigger Than One Game
Yes, this was just one win. But it was more than that.
It was a reminder that Indiana still has the fight, the structure, and the belief to punch above its weight. In a season that’s been short on wins, moments like this prove that the Pacers haven’t lost their edge.
If Tuesday night was any indication, this team isn’t going to quietly fade into the background. They’re still scrappy.
Still dangerous. And still capable of pulling off the kind of upset that makes you rethink what their ceiling really is.
Don’t let the record fool you - the Pacers are still very much in the fight.