The final buzzer didn’t settle things between the Knicks and Pacers. If anything, it turned the temperature up.
After New York’s 106-104 NBA Cup loss on Friday night, Knicks guard Jose Alvarado had to be held back from Indiana guard Quenton Jackson following a tense exchange that started with words during the game and spilled over once it ended. Alvarado and Jackson shoved each other and kept jawing until players and team personnel stepped in to separate them.
That flare-up came after an earlier back-and-forth between Jalen Brunson and Jackson. Brunson, last season’s NBA Finals MVP, was caught on the television broadcast throwing an insult Jackson’s way while pointing to Indiana’s defensive approach.
Jose Alvarado had to be held back from Quenton Jackson after the Knicks lost to the Pacers 🍿 pic.twitter.com/uOMugFAs9B
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 14, 2026
“Box and one… Weak ass n****,” Brunson said.
The moment fit the edge of a matchup that already carried some baggage between two Eastern Conference teams with recent postseason history.
Brunson still did plenty on the floor for New York. He finished with 33 points, 11 assists, two steals and one rebound in 36 minutes, going 11-for-22 from the field and 4-for-9 from 3-point range while hitting seven of eight free throws.
But the numbers weren’t enough to save the Knicks from their second NBA Cup loss. The defeat dropped New York to 6-6 overall and 0-2 in East Group B, leaving the reigning NBA champions in a tough spot in the tournament standings.
Indiana moved to 5-8 overall and 1-1 in group play with the road win.
The two teams will see each other again later this month, when the Knicks host the Pacers on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 8 p.m. ET.
Jalen Brunson is fed up with Quenton Jackson 😭
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 14, 2026
“Box and one… Weak ass n****” pic.twitter.com/iG5bhDgUJW
Before that, New York continues its four-game road trip with back-to-back games against the Toronto Raptors. The Knicks visit Toronto on Sunday at 6 p.m.
ET, then return to face the Raptors again Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
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Lovering brings the kind of profile teams often circle when they need emergency size: rebounding, rim protection and a chance to soak up minutes if the depth chart gets thin. The catch is that a move for him would likely force the Knicks to clear a two-way spot, with guard Jaden Akins the player who could be squeezed out. For a team already managing roster challenges, it is the sort of decision that can quietly shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Stars Did Enough But One Frustrating Problem Keeps Showing Up
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The problem, though, keeps circling back to the same place: the support behind the stars has not been steady enough. Miles McBride was the only bench player to score more than five points, and that kind of thin production leaves little margin for error when the Knicks need someone beyond the core four to tilt a game. For a team still trying to settle into a rhythm, the frustration is less about one bad night than the pattern it keeps reinforcing. [Read more 🡒]