Rick Carlisle was proud of the Indiana Pacers for punching above their weight in a close 106-104 win over the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks during NBA Cup action on Friday night.

Carlisle has been a head coach in the league since 2001, going through his 10th season with the Pacers. He looks to get Indiana back to the playoffs after missing out last season following an incredible run to the NBA Finals in 2025.

Going into the matchup, Indiana did not have Tyrese Haliburton due to injury. On the other hand, New York was relatively healthy with its best stars playing, making the game a tough one for Indiana to pull off. That didn't discourage Carlisle and the squad as they found ways to get the upper hand and the last laugh over the defending champions.

“We were a pretty big underdog coming into this game tonight and we knew we were gonna have to really battle. Our guys kept fighting…it was a good win,” Carlisle said after the game, per reporter Alex Golden.

Rick Carlisle’s opening statement on the Pacers 106-104 win against New York.

“We were a pretty big underdog coming into this game tonight and we knew we were gonna have to really battle. Our guys kept fighting…it was a good win.” pic.twitter.com/qxN71i1luF

— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) November 14, 2026

How Rick Carlisle, Pacers performed against Knicks

Rick Carlisle and the Pacers hope to have Tyrese Haliburton back soon. In the meantime, they look forward to having underdog status against the better teams in the league like the Knicks.

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Five players scored in double-digits for Indiana in the win. Pascal Siakam led the team with 19 points, three rebounds and two assists. He shot 5-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-12 from the free-throw line. Aaron Nesmith came next with 18 points and seven rebounds, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16 points and five rebounds, while Andrew Nembhard and Ivica Zubac provided 12 points each.

Indiana improved to a 5-8 record this season, sitting at 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards while trailing the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors.

The Pacers will look forward to their next matchup, being on the road. They take on the Philadelphia 76ers as tip-off commences on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. ET.