The Knicks will go into Friday's meeting with the Pacers as 8.5-point favourites, but the context makes this more than a simple early-season line. The teams meet at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m. EST, in the first of three matchups between them in 2026-2027.
New York arrives at 6-5 after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Indiana are 4-8 after beating the Washington Wizards. That contrast in recent form helps explain why the betting market has leaned toward the Knicks, who also won three of the four matchups against the Pacers last season.
Why the Knicks have the edge
Jalen Brunson remains the central figure for New York. He is averaging 26 points, five assists and three rebounds on the season, and the Knicks have leaned on him to steady results when the schedule gets tougher.
That matters here because the Pacers have shown they can score enough to stay in games, but the Knicks have had the better of this matchup recently. Last season's 3-1 edge is still part of the story, and it gives New York a familiar advantage entering another meeting in Indianapolis.
The number to watch
The market has set the line at 8.5 with odds of -110, which suggests the expectation is for New York to control the game rather than simply edge it. For Indiana, the task is to build on the win over Washington and show that their 4-8 start does not tell the whole story.
For the Knicks, this is a chance to back up the betting respect and strengthen their position early in the season. For the Pacers, it is an opportunity to challenge a team that beat them three times in four meetings last season and remind them that this series is still competitive.
