The Pacers turned a sleepy first quarter into a full-on rout, rolling past the Nets by overwhelming them over the final 36 minutes. Indiana outscored Brooklyn 112-89 after the opening period and made the game look fast, loose and out of reach. The ball moved all night, with the Pacers finishing with 34 assists on 49 made baskets.
Tyrese Haliburton was right back in the center of it. The Indiana point guard looked sharp, efficient and completely in control, finishing with 24 points on 8-13 shooting and going 4-7 from three.
He also added 10 assists for his second double-double of the season, along with four rebounds and two steals. Haliburton was a team-best +29 and had the Nets struggling to keep up from the moment Indiana picked up the pace.
His second-half burst carried the tone of the night. He buried three deep threes after halftime, then followed another highlight by bouncing the ball off the floor to himself for a dunk in transition.
By the end, he was smiling down the floor while the Pacers bench erupted. He logged just over 31 minutes, and after the game he said in his on-court interview that he would play in Milwaukee tomorrow despite the team’s first back-to-back of the season.
He also said that pushing through tired legs is helpful as he works back into game shape.
Indiana’s speed became even more valuable after the Nets lost their starting big man in the first quarter. He left with an ankle sprain and did not return. With that opening in the middle, the Pacers leaned into their pace and kept Brooklyn scrambling, especially against a Nets team that had played a close game against Cleveland the night before.
Jalen Huff made the most of the opportunity in the paint. He started the second half and delivered a clean third quarter, going 3-3 from the field for 7 points while adding two assists and a block.
In the first half, he had 5 points on 2-3 shooting with two blocks and an assist. He closed with 14 points on 83.3% shooting.
Kelly Oubre Jr. also gave Indiana a steadier showing after a rough start to his first two games with the team. He opened the game by scoring 10 points on 4-6 shooting in the first half, while adding an assist and a turnover.
The fouls were still an issue - he picked up three in 11 minutes and got his fourth quickly in the third - but he settled in after that. Oubre finished 6-9 from the floor for 14 points, with two assists and two rebounds.
In his halftime interview with Jeremiah Johnson, he said his early-season struggles have been tied to overthinking. "I'm just playing harder, but they've been encoruaging me to be myself," Oubre said.
"I've been in my head a little bit about learning the system, learning the play calls, but I'm just gonna come out here and run hard, play hard, and defend and try to rebound"
Pascal Siakam kept his strong start going with another 20-plus-point night, his third time reaching that mark this season. Obi Toppin added another solid bench performance with 16 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Andrew Nembhard stayed hot from deep, hitting 4-6 from three on his way to 14 points.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Had An Immediate Reaction To Jalen Williams Scare
Jalen Williams frightening exit against the Clippers drew an immediate wave of concern across the league, and Tyrese Haliburton was among the players who reacted right away. The Thunder forward was taken off the court on a stretcher after a serious injury, with Oklahoma City still waiting on a diagnosis and head coach Mark Daigneault not offering any specifics after the game.
For Pacers fans, Haliburtons response stood out because he knows the emotional side of seeing a fellow player go through a similar situation. He publicly expressed support for Williams, a reminder of how quickly a night can turn in the NBA and how tightly connected players can be when injuries bring everything else into the background. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Sheppard Injury Puts A Crucial Pacers Decision On Hold
Ben Sheppards setback lands at a difficult moment for both the guard and the Pacers. The 2023 first-round pick had been trying to carve out a steadier place in the rotation, but roster changes and competition had already limited his chances to show what he can do. Now, with a torn meniscus in his left knee, his progress is on pause at the very time Indiana had reason to keep evaluating what kind of long-term fit he could become.
The injury is expected to keep Sheppard out for several months and could end his season before it really gets going. For a Pacers team that has been sorting through the back end of its roster, the timing matters because it takes one more developmental option off the board while leaving his future role unresolved. Indiana still has decisions to make about what Sheppard can be for this team, but for now the conversation is about recovery rather than opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face A Familiar Problem In Brooklyn Tonight
The Pacers head into Brooklyn looking to steady themselves after a disappointing home opener, and the matchup offers a quick chance to reset against a Nets team still trying to find its footing under Jordi Fernandez. Brooklyn comes in off a narrow loss to the Cavaliers, but there is plenty of talent on a young roster that is still developing and learning how to close out games.
Indiana also knows this is not a comfortable spot on the schedule, especially with Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle in the mix after both have given the Pacers problems before. For Indiana, the bigger concern may be starting faster and getting more from the bench, two areas that can decide whether this turns into a clean bounce-back or another night of chasing the game. [Read more 🡒]