Tyrese Haliburton’s return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse is the biggest storyline of the night, but the Pacers still have real basketball to sort through against the Mavericks.
For the first time since Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Pacers fans will get to see their franchise centerpiece back on his home floor. Haliburton is much more than a star in an Indiana uniform; he has become a face of the franchise, a favorite around the city and a player whose impact reaches well beyond the box score. This home opener gives the fan base a chance to show how much his run meant to them.
The atmosphere figures to be loud, emotional and loaded with meaning. The crowd is expected to bring tears with it, and Haliburton could feel that wave just as sharply. He knows how much the city values him, but this kind of reception could hit differently.
Indiana comes in after a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, and now turns to a young Dallas team led by reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. The 19-year-old forward barely crossed paths with the Pacers last season, which makes this his first crack at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. At 6-foot-10, Flagg brings scoring ability from every level and a two-way game that makes him a tough cover from the jump.
He arrived in the season opener against the Houston Rockets with a statement, finishing 10-17 from the field for 32 points. He also lived at the line, going 11-13 while drawing seven shooting fouls.
That kind of pressure puts a premium on discipline for Indiana, which will likely look to Pascal Siakam, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Aaron Nesmith if healthy to take turns on him. The Pacers won’t shut Flagg down completely; the job is to stay in front, keep hands off and make every look as difficult as possible.
The same idea applies to Kyrie Irving on the other end. With T.J.
McConnell still out because of a right hamstring injury, Indiana’s backcourt depth is thinner, and Andrew Nembhard is the likeliest primary defender against Irving for most of the night. That assignment is never simple.
Irving remains one of the league’s most dangerous offensive guards, especially when it comes to forcing mistakes and drawing fouls.
Indiana’s point guard rotation is stretched, so Haliburton and Nembhard are the names most likely to steer the offense if this game follows the same pattern as the win in New Orleans. Quenton Jackson should get some time as a secondary ball handler, but the Pacers are not exactly overflowing with options behind their main creators. Dallas can also lean on Flagg in that role and go bigger, which adds another layer to the matchup.
Even with all of that, the night still circles back to Haliburton. Once he gets through the emotional opening, he gets to do what he does best: control the game, manipulate pick-and-roll coverages and let his improved scoring take over. Dallas is not built to make life miserable for him on that end, and that opens the door for a big night if he settles in quickly.
The setting only adds to the scene. Fans will receive gold shirts featuring a basketball net shaped like the state of Indiana, with “Indiana” woven into the design in the same font as the gold pinstripe jerseys and “Yes ’Cers” on the left side. The Pacers will wear those gold pinstripes too, a jersey that has already become a fan favorite.
This one is expected to be sold out, and it should feel like a playoff night inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. If you can’t be there, the game is on the DAZN app, and the radio call will be on 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan.
In Other News...
Pacers Suddenly Have A Real TJ McConnell Decision To Make
With TJ McConnell still rehabbing a hamstring injury, the Pacers got a useful look at Quenton Jackson in the backup point guard role, and Rick Carlisle clearly liked what he saw. Jackson, who came up on a two-way deal and already has G League experience, handled the job well in the recent game and drew praise from his coach for stepping into a spot Indiana has had trouble filling without McConnell.
The bigger issue now is what happens when McConnell gets back. Indiana does not have many clean alternatives behind Tyrese Haliburton, and Carlisles choice with Jackson only sharpened the question of how the rotation should look once the roster is whole again. Braden Smith and Kobe Brown are still not ready to fully take on that responsibility, which leaves the Pacers weighing whether Jackson has done enough to stay in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Already Have A Bench Concern They Couldnt Ignore
The Pacers got their first look at how their rookie reserves might fit into a real game, and the opening-night answer was not especially encouraging. Jarace Walker finished with three points and six rebounds, but his night was marked by more turnovers than assists, while Ben Sheppard also produced three points and was asked to do most of his work on the defensive end.
For a bench group Indiana will need to trust over the course of the season, that kind of quiet debut matters. Walker and Sheppard were both in positions to help provide energy and stability, yet neither made much of a statistical imprint against New Orleans, leaving the Pacers with an early reminder that their second unit still has some proving to do. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Just Changed Everything For The Pacers Again
Tyrese Haliburtons return gave Indiana exactly the kind of jolt it has been waiting for. In his first regular-season game since tearing his Achilles tendon, he looked right at home again, finishing with 23 points and 12 assists in 34 minutes as the Pacers edged the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120. For a team that has spent months waiting to see what its offense would look like with Haliburton back in the mix, the answer arrived quickly.
Afterward, Haliburton was visibly emotional in a postgame interview, talking about the support from Pacers fans and the presence of his family, who were in the building for the moment. It was a reminder of how much this return meant beyond the box score, especially for a player who signed a five-year extension in 2023 and had established himself as one of the leagues brightest young guards before the injury interrupted his 2024-25 season. The only real question now is how quickly Indiana can build on this and what comes next as Haliburton settles back into the flow. [Read more 🡒]