The Pacers put up a valiant fight against the Mavericks on Sunday evening, but ultimately fell short in a 134-130 shootout at the Fieldhouse. Despite the loss, the Pacers' effort was a silver lining for fans keeping an eye on the draft lottery standings, as they remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and second overall in the NBA inverse standings.
Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard were standout performers for the Pacers, combining for a dynamic 30 minutes of play. Siakam tallied 30 points, including a couple of threes, and grabbed 8 rebounds. Nembhard was equally impressive, contributing 22 points and 11 assists, showcasing an offense that was in sync for much of the game.
It's almost hard to fathom scoring 130 points and still coming up short, but that's exactly what happened. The Pacers were on fire from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 20 for 32, aside from Jay Huff and Micah Potter, who struggled with a combined 0 for 10. Jarace Walker had another solid outing, going 4 of 7 from deep, with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, while also improving his turnover rate.
However, turnovers and defensive lapses were costly. The Pacers committed 15 turnovers, leading to 19 points for the Mavericks.
Dallas, despite injury challenges, relied on veterans like Khris Middleton and PJ Washington, who scored 25 and 23 points respectively, to keep their offense rolling. Reserve guard Brandon Williams also made his presence felt with his ability to penetrate the lane and create opportunities.
The Pacers' bench provided a spark, with Kobe Brown posting a career-high 15 points and 7 rebounds. Ben Sheppard chipped in with 13 points, hitting 3 of 6 from downtown, while Quenton Jackson brought energy, scoring 11 points and dishing out 6 assists in just 22 minutes.
Looking ahead, the Pacers will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night at the Fieldhouse. With the Hornets visiting later in the week, the Pacers are set to play teams that are actively vying for playoff positions in the East.
The Sixers will be without Paul George due to a league suspension, and Joel Embiid's status remains uncertain as he deals with knee and shin issues. If Embiid is sidelined, the Sixers will rely on the dynamic backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe to push the pace. The Pacers will need to address their turnover issues to avoid giving the Sixers easy opportunities.
On the injury front, the Pacers have several question marks. Pascal Siakam is doubtful with a wrist injury, and Aaron Nesmith is expected to miss the week. Tyrese Haliburton will also be out for a few weeks as he recovers from shingles.
In a notable front office move, Ryan Carr, the Pacers' Senior VP of Player Personnel, is stepping down to join Indiana University as the Executive Director of Basketball. Carr's departure comes at a critical time with the draft approaching, but the opportunity to return to his alma mater was too significant to pass up.
The Pacers expressed their gratitude for Carr's 25 years of service, acknowledging his impact on the organization and wishing him success at IU.
As the Pacers prepare for the upcoming matchups, they'll need to tighten their defense and continue their offensive momentum to compete against the playoff-bound 76ers.
Pacers vs. 76ers Details:
- Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- When: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 - 7:00 p.m.
ET
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network
- Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan
- Odds: Pacers +8.5
Projected Starters:
- Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, Kobe Brown, Jarace Walker, Jay Huff
- 76ers: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Dominick Barlow, Andre Drummond
Injuries:
- Pacers: Andrew Nembhard (back) - questionable, Kam Jones (back) - questionable, TJ McConnell (hammy) - questionable, Micah Potter (ankle) - questionable, Pascal Siakam (wrist) - doubtful, Aaron Nesmith (ankle) - out, Ivica Zubac (ankle) - out, Johnny Furphy (knee) - out, Obi Toppin (hammy) - out, Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) - out