On Saturday, October 10, the Indiana Pacers met the Atlanta Hawks in their second preseason game and walked away with a 119-117 loss at the buzzer.
Indiana had control for stretches, including a two-point edge in the first half, but the game tilted in Atlanta’s favor in the third quarter when the Hawks built an eight-point lead. The margin never grew into anything huge, which made the Pacers’ inability to finish the comeback stand out even more.
The box score offered a few reasons for the result. No Pacers player logged more than 20 minutes, and Kelly Oubre Jr. finished as the team’s plus-minus leader at +5. Tyrese Haliburton, the superstar at the center of Indiana’s hopes, did not play, and that should keep expectations measured for a preseason matchup like this one.
Still, one issue is starting to look bigger than preseason noise: rebounding. Even with the addition of Ivica Zubac, the Pacers are still not controlling the glass the way they’ll need to if they want to be taken seriously as contenders.
Jarace Walker has been one of the brighter stories so far, continuing what looks like a preseason breakout. He led Indiana with seven rebounds in this game and has averaged more than five boards and more than six assists across the two preseason contests. That kind of production could help him carve out real minutes, especially if he keeps pairing playmaking with hustle.
But Walker’s progress doesn’t erase the larger concern. The Pacers were beaten badly on the boards in this one, finishing with zero offensive rebounds while the Hawks collected 10. Those extra possessions mattered, and they helped decide the game.
Atlanta had help from its own frontcourt and on the wings. The Hawks’ young bigs, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, made their presence felt, while Lou Dort grabbed six rebounds and CJ McCollum added five.
The Pacers made the move for Zubac with the idea that they’d finally have the kind of rebounding big man they never had with Myles Turner. That expectation is part of why this result feels worth noticing, even in October. It’s not fair to pin every missed rebound on Zubac alone, but the larger trend is hard to ignore.
Preseason always invites overreaction, and this one should be no different. But the Pacers have talked about fixing a weakness, and so far they haven’t passed the test they set for themselves.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Already Has Pacers Fans Worried About One Big Thing
Tyrese Haliburtons night off in Atlanta was enough to stir some unease around the Pacers, even if the bigger picture still looks calm. He sat out Indianas preseason game against the Hawks because of a tweaked ankle, another reminder of how closely this teams fortunes are tied to its star guard after his recovery from the Achilles tear he suffered in the 2024-25 NBA Finals.
For a team built around Haliburtons pace, passing and shot-making, even a minor setback tends to draw attention. The ankle issue is being described as minor, but it arrives at a time when every preseason note about his health carries extra weight for Indiana, and it leaves fans watching closely as the Pacers try to get through October with their most important player staying on track. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Just Became Indianas Biggest Question Again
Tyrese Haliburton is back in NBA action after missing the previous season with an Achilles tendon injury, and for the Pacers, that alone makes his return one of the most closely watched developments of the fall. Indiana has built plenty of its recent identity around Haliburtons playmaking and pace, which is why every step in his comeback carries extra weight for a team that still views him as a centerpiece. He is under a five-year extension he signed in 2023, and the franchise is still planning around him being a starter for the 2026-27 season.
What makes this next stretch so important is not just whether Haliburton can suit up again, but how quickly he can look like himself after such a serious injury. His first game back offered some encouraging signs, with his passing and defense both standing out, yet the bigger question for Indiana is what comes next as he settles back into live NBA rhythm. For a Pacers team that has invested so much in him, the answer will shape far more than one return appearance. [Read more 🡒]
Braden Smith Just Gave Pacers Fans A Tough Rookie Debate
A two-point preseason loss to Atlanta gave Pacers fans one of those early rookie moments that can linger longer than the final score. Braden Smith, the second-round pick trying to carve out a place in Indianas backcourt, found himself with the last shot after working downhill off a screen from Jalen Slawson, a possession that neatly captured both the trust he is already earning and the questions that still follow him.
Smiths appeal has always been tied to his competitiveness and willingness to take on big moments, but the preseason also offered a reminder of how hard it is to project second-round guards into real NBA rotation pieces. Indiana has plenty of reason to keep watching closely, because the Pacers need usable guard depth and developmental wins wherever they can find them, yet the gap between intriguing rookie and dependable pro can be a steep one to close. [Read more 🡒]