Pacers routed Nets in Brooklyn behind Haliburton and Siakam
Indiana beat Brooklyn by 27 pts, pulling away with a 41 to 30 pts second quarter and a 37 to 24 pts third quarter. Tyrese Haliburton had 24 pts and 10 ast, and Pascal Siakam added 21 pts, 7 reb and 6 ast. The Pacers made 21-43 3PT, and Nolan Traore led the Nets with 17 pts.
Sources: Box score via ESPN
Also in the picture (3)
Reported Ivica Zubac left with an ankle sprain
Scott Agness reported that Ivica Zubac suffered a left ankle sprain early in the game and did not return to the bench. Tony East wrote that Jay Huff stepped up in his absence. Huff had 14 pts on 5-6 FG with 3 blk in 21 min.
Reported Indiana's shooting bounced back after the Dallas loss
Scott Agness noted that the Pacers made three times as many 3s as in their previous game and committed just 3 turnovers in the second half. Obi Toppin hit 4 3PM on his way to 16 pts off the bench. Tony East called their shot making "terrific" after what he described as an awful game against Dallas.
Indiana led for 81% of the game, and its largest lead was 27 pts. Brooklyn's largest lead was 6 pts. There were 8 lead changes. The Pacers also outscored the Nets 56 to 40 pts in the paint.
Sources: Box score via ESPN
Recap written Oct 25, 8:42 PM ET by our system from the box score and the posts linked, in our own words. Rumors and opinions are labelled.
Things to watch
set before tip, answered from the box score after
Does Aaron Nesmith miss the game?No
Scott Agness (Bluesky): Pacers guards McConnell and Sheppard are out for Sunday’s game in Brooklyn. Aaron Nesmith is probable.
Reported Haliburton's comeback heads to Brooklyn after a spoiled home return
Tyrese Haliburton is back from the Achilles tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. He led a win in New Orleans, ESPN reported, but Dallas won 121-105 in his Indianapolis return, where he had 18 points and seven assists. Locked On Pacers' Tony East said effort is what the Pacers most need to fix.
Opinion Nets hold out Mikel Brown Jr. on the back-to-back
Mikel Brown Jr. is out against Indiana for back injury management, and Tyler Bilodeau (shoulder) is also out. Erik Slater reports that Jordi Fernandez is limiting Brown's early workload after he missed the second half of last season and most of the preseason.
Reported Pacers short in the backcourt: McConnell and Sheppard out
T.J. McConnell (hamstring) is out, and Ben Sheppard is out with a torn left meniscus and no timetable for a return. Braden Smith is doubtful. Tony East reports that Aaron Nesmith is probable.
Sources: T.J. McConnell status (ESPN) · Ben Sheppard status (ESPN) · Braden Smith status (NBA report) · @tonyreast.bsky.social on Bluesky
Reported Carlisle's rotation raises questions at forward and backup center
Tony East of Locked On Pacers called it "weird" that Jarace Walker started against Dallas while Nesmith and Kelly Oubre Jr. came off the bench. He said Jay Huff and Jalen Slawson split the backup center minutes after the Pacers moved away from Larry Nance Jr.
Written by our system from the reports, posts and podcasts linked here, in our own words; written Oct 25, 2:10 PM ET, before tip. Rumors and opinions are labelled.
Since the final
posted after the final · newest first · official report, X, Bluesky, RotoWire, ESPN
RotoWireINDIvica ZubacDoubtful
Ivica Zubac: Doubtful for Monday — Head coach Rick Carlisle said that X-rays on Zubac's sprained left ankle came back negative, but he's got some swelling and is unlikely to play Monday in Milwaukee, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.
Started Haliburton, Nembhard, Siakam, Nesmith, Zubac box score
Ben SheppardOut
Sheppard has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee and is without a timetable for a return to game action, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.
Left, Knee (return est. 2026-12-01) · ESPN
Braden SmithOut
G League - Two-Way · NBA report
Johnny FurphyOut
Furphy was diagnosed with a torn right ACL on Monday and will miss the remainder of the season, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
Right, Knee, Surgery (return est. 2027-01-02) · ESPN
Kobe BrownOut
G League - Two-Way · NBA report
T.J. McConnellOut
McConnell (hamstring) is out for Sunday's game against the Nets.
Right, Hamstring (return est. 2026-10-26) · ESPN
BKN Brooklyn Nets
Started Randle, Ellis, Porter Jr., Demin, Sharpe box score
Mikel Brown Jr.Out
Head coach Jordi Fernandez said Brown (rest) will be held out of Sunday's game against the Pacers, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Rest (return est. 2026-10-27) · ESPN
Tyler BilodeauOut
Bilodeau (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Indiana.
Right, Shoulder, Sprain (return est. 2026-10-27) · ESPN
Latest news
posted before tip · newest first · official report, X, Bluesky, RotoWire, ESPN
XINDAaron NesmithAvailable
Aaron Nesmith (hamstring) listed available to play Sunday.
Tyrese Haliburton's Indy returned was spoiled by a poor Pacers effort. To this point, it's effort that the Pacers need to address more than anything on either side of the ball:
Michael Porter: Well-rounded effort in loss — Porter produced 28 points (10-18 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), nine rebounds, four steals and one assist across 33 minutes in Saturday's 125-121 loss to the Cavaliers.
#Nets coach Jordi Fernandez confirmed that Mikel Brown Jr. will be held out of the tail end of the back to back tomorrow vs the #Pacers, regardless of how many minutes he logs tonight in Cleveland. #nba #Cavs
T.J. McConnell remains out tomorrow in Brooklyn, Pacers reveal on injury report. Ben Sheppard, with a tear in his meniscus, is also out.
Aaron Nesmith is probable.
Tyrese Haliburton: Nets 18 points with full line — Haliburton recorded 18 points (8-17 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one steal over 32 minutes during Friday's 121-105 loss to the Mavericks.
Ivica Zubac: Pulls down 11 rebounds in loss — Zubac amassed nine points (4-7 FG, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists and one block over 24 minutes during Friday's 121-105 loss to Dallas.
Got really loud in here after the Toppin dunk-and-1, but then the Mavs got a layup and Jarace Walker dribbled the ball off his foot out of bounds and Dallas is back up 27 in a. blink.
Travel is the straight-line distance between arenas from the schedule, an estimate; in the first week they include preseason games. These numbers describe the schedule; they are not a prediction of how a team will play.
Referees: Tyler Ford, Brian Forte, Dannica Baroody