INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers finally got what had been missing all season at home: a win.
After three quarters of a tight game, Indiana ripped off a 14-0 run to open the fourth and pulled away from the Washington Wizards for a 114-101 victory Wednesday night. It was the Pacers’ first home win of the season, and it came with the kind of urgency this group needs as it keeps waiting on Tyrese Haliburton.
Before tipoff, Rick Carlisle said the next Haliburton update will come in about 10 days. That was hardly the kind of news Pacers fans were hoping for, which only makes nights like this more valuable while the team tries to hold things together until its star returns.
Ivica Zubac gave Indiana a major lift in the middle. Entering the night with averages of 9.0 points and 7.7 rebounds, numbers that were affected by very limited minutes in two games, he looked much more like the player the Pacers expected.
Zubac was already on his way to a double-double early in the second half, and he finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. He also handled his matchup with Anthony Davis, something Indiana has had trouble with before.
"Just trying to be more aggressive," Zubac said after the game. "There’s a lot of opportunities for me. We’ve just got to stay together and play hard and we’re gonna have a chance every single night."
Andrew Nembhard kept the offense moving and came up big when it mattered most. He stacked up 17 points and 10 assists, including several eye-catching passes that fueled the Pacers’ attack. One of the best came on a feed to Jay Huff for an easy slam, and Nembhard also made key plays late as Indiana closed it out.
TJ McConnell gave the second unit a jolt, too. In his first second-half minutes of the season, he logged 7 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes. For a Pacers bench that has needed more production, that kind of spark matters.
Kelly Oubre Jr. also turned in a strong showing in his first start with the Pacers. Most of his damage came before halftime, but he still finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and a blocked shot. He was active everywhere, and even if the 3-point shot still hasn’t arrived, this was a step in the right direction.
The Pacers’ next test comes Friday night at home against the champion New York Knicks.
In Other News...
Pacers Suddenly Face Another Aaron Nesmith Concern They Cant Ignore
Aaron Nesmiths night against the Washington Wizards ended early after he left with a right knee injury, adding another layer of concern to a Pacers season already dealing with its share of health questions. Rick Carlisle said Nesmith felt tightness in the back of the knee and is being treated as day-to-day while Indiana waits for further evaluation.
For a Pacers team that has already seen Nesmith miss time earlier this season with a left hamstring injury, the timing makes this especially worth watching. His availability has become a moving target, and even a brief absence can matter for a roster that leans on his energy, defense and two-way presence on the wing. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Still Waiting As Tyrese Haliburton Return Timeline Gets Murkier
Tyrese Haliburton is still out with a left hamstring strain, and the Pacers are left to keep sorting through a stretch without their primary playmaker. Rick Carlisle has called the injury mild and week-to-week, but the original two-week recovery estimate has already come and gone without Haliburton being cleared to return.
For Indiana, the timing only adds to the frustration as the team keeps chasing its first home win of the season. There is still no confirmed return date, which leaves the Pacers waiting on the one player who most shapes their pace, ball movement and late-game organization. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Return Home Facing A Test They Havent Handled Well
After a three-game road trip, the Pacers are back home with a familiar kind of problem waiting for them in Washington: a game that can get away from them if they let the tempo drift and the glass become a battle. Indiana has spent plenty of time this season trying to turn speed and spacing into an edge, and this matchup brings the usual questions about whether the Pacers can impose their style early enough to keep control.
The broader slate around the league only sharpens the point, with marquee frontcourt and backcourt matchups elsewhere underscoring how much individual battles can shape a night. For Indiana, the focus is less on the names across the schedule and more on whether the Pacers can handle the rebounding and pace issues that have given them trouble before, especially now that they are trying to settle back in at home. [Read more 🡒]