INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers have their first multi-game win streak of the season as they beat the New York Knicks 106-104 on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for their second straight win.

The Pacers are now 5-8 on the season, and 1-1 in NBA Cup play.

All five Pacers ended the game in double figures: Pascal Siakam had 19 points on 5-of-13 shooting, Aaron Nesmith finished with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16 points, and Andrew Nembhard and Ivica Zubac each had 12.

Here are three observations:

Pacers pull ahead with strong second quarter

The Pacers traded baskets with the reigning NBA champions in the first quarter, but they found ways to pull away in the second. 

Jalen Slawson, playing meaningful NBA minutes while on a two-way contract, started a run for the Pacers by deflecting Mikal Bridges’ pass. The ball went to an unsuspecting OG Anunoby, who fumbled the ball to Pacers guard Quenton Jackson. That turned into a jump ball on the other end of the court, which the Pacers won, and Siakam drew a foul for two free-throws to break a 31-point tie. That sequence spurred a 15-4 run, capped by T.J. McConnell finding Obi Toppin for a transition layup.

Later in the quarter, McConnell found Toppin for a transition layup, pushing the Pacers’ lead up to nine.

Indiana maintained a nine-point lead through the final six minutes of the quarter, fending off small New York runs to go into halftime with an advantage. It was just enough to pull out a win.

Indiana grits through end of game

The Knicks were not going down easy. They methodically broke down Indiana's lead, eventually tying the game at 87 early in the fourth quarter.

Even when the Pacers got their lead back up two possessions, the Knicks were relentless. They went on a 6-0 run over 50 seconds, benefitting off two missed free-throws by Siakam late in the game to get within two points with five seconds left.

Then, after a bungled inbound from the Pacers, Anunoby recovered the ball and called for a last-second timeout. The Knicks had 2.8 seconds to tie the game, and they drew up a tried-and-true: get it to Karl-Anthony Towns.

Towns turned after receiving the inbound, had an open 15-footer to the basket, and shot. It bounced off the rim.

It was a lucky break for the Pacers, and they were able to find a way to beat the reigning champions even through a late Knicks run.

Aaron Nesmith rebounds from right knee injury

Nesmith came into Friday’s game with a questionable designation after he left Wednesday’s game with right knee soreness. He scored just two points that game on 1-of-6 shooting, playing 22 minutes before sitting out the remainder of that game.

In that two-day stretch, Nesmith was able to work through his right knee pain, returning to the starting lineup against the Knicks.

He returned to his usual scoring ways, too, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting — including a dunk with about five minutes left in the game that got the crowd on its feet. 

Nesmith left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent hand injury.