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Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks, Tonight 8:00 PM ET: preview

Tonight · 8:00 PM ETFiserv Forum
IndianaPacers
2-1 · 5th East
60%to win
@
MilwaukeeBucks
0-3 · 13th East
40%to win
Win chance from sportsbook odds
Spread MIL +4.5 ptsTotal 239.5 ptsML IND -170 · MIL +142DraftKings ·
Injuries IND Out Sheppard, Furphy, McConnell · Day-to-day Zubac

IND likely five, Oct 25 box score: Siakam, Zubac Day-to-day, Nembhard, Nesmith, Haliburton

MIL likely five, Oct 24 box score: Turner, Kuzma, Herro, Jaquez Jr., Rollins

IND on a back-to-back
Updated · news · source status

The story

Reported Haliburton back from Achilles tear, leading Pacers again

Tyrese Haliburton is back from the Achilles tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. ESPN described an emotional return as he led Indiana to a hard-fought opening win in New Orleans. CBS Sports and Zach Lowe noted it was his first regular-season game since that night.

Sources: ESPN: “Tyrese Haliburton leads Pacers' opening-night win in emotional return …” · CBS Sports: “Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton moved to tears following first game back…” · The Zach Lowe Show “Opening Night Overreactions, Alarming Trends, Hot” at 1:15:44 · Gil's Arena “Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends” at 1:15:45

Also in the picture (3)

Written by our system from the reports, posts and podcasts linked here, in our own words; updated . Rumors and opinions are labelled.

Schedule & travel · referees
INDMIL
Days of rest01
Back-to-backYesNo
Games in last 7 days33
Travel to this game (est.)734 mi693 mi
Travel last 7 days (est.)2,092 mi2,022 mi
Time zones crossed11
Road trip game #2—

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.

Referee crew is announced the morning of the game.

IND

This season, per game

MIL
better: 121.3 pts #5
Points
119.0 pts #8
better: 116.7 pts #19
Points allowed
129.0 pts #30
better: 114.4 per 100 #9
Offensive rating
109.3 per 100 #13
better: 110.0 per 100 #17
Defensive rating
118.5 per 100 #26
better: +4.4 per 100 #10
Net rating
-9.2 per 100 #23
106.1 poss #10
Pace
108.8 poss #3
All team stats (9)
2-1
Record
0-3
2-0
Road / Home
0-1
Last 5

Per game, regular season; #n is the league rank; ▲ marks the better side.

Players

this season's averages · tap a player for his page

IND IND

PlayerMinPtsRebAst
Tyrese Haliburton32.3 min21.7 pts4.0 reb9.7 ast
Andrew Nembhard32.0 min16.0 pts1.7 reb5.7 ast
Pascal Siakam30.0 min24.7 pts6.0 reb3.3 ast
Obi Toppin23.3 min16.3 pts4.3 reb1.3 ast
Kelly Oubre Jr.22.7 min7.0 pts2.0 reb2.3 ast
Ivica Zubac21.7 min9.0 pts9.0 reb1.3 ast
Aaron Nesmith19.5 min11.0 pts2.5 reb1.5 ast
Jarace Walker18.3 min3.7 pts4.7 reb1.3 ast
Quenton Jackson17.0 min6.3 pts2.0 reb2.0 ast
Jay Huff13.0 min7.0 pts2.0 reb1.5 ast

MIL MIL

PlayerMinPtsRebAst
Tyler Herro31.7 min23.7 pts4.3 reb5.3 ast
Jaime Jaquez Jr.31.0 min20.7 pts8.7 reb3.7 ast
Kyle Kuzma30.7 min11.0 pts9.0 reb3.3 ast
Ryan Rollins27.7 min11.7 pts5.7 reb4.0 ast
Myles Turner27.3 min7.7 pts4.3 reb1.7 ast
Kasparas Jakucionis24.7 min11.3 pts2.7 reb3.3 ast
Kel'el Ware19.3 min12.3 pts6.7 reb0.7 ast
Ousmane Dieng18.5 min4.0 pts2.5 reb2.0 ast
AJ Green17.0 min9.3 pts1.3 reb0.7 ast
Brayden Burries13.7 min8.3 pts3.7 reb1.7 ast

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Latest news

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.

    Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com · Original ↗
  • BlueskyINDTyrese HaliburtonAvailable

    Tyrese Haliburton tells Jeremiah Johnson he will play tomorrow in Milwaukee. His first back-to-back of the season.

    @tonyreast.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • BlueskyIND

    Pacers respond to their awful game against Dallas and crush the Nets 136-109. Their shot making was terrific. Jay Huff stepped up after Ivica Zubac's injury. Pascal Siakam broke through a clunky game. Pacers 2-1 and in Milwaukee tomorrow night.

    @tonyreast.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • BlueskyINDIvica Zubac

    Pacers made 21 3s (3x as many as last game) in a 136-109 win at Brooklyn. Ivica Zubac suffered a left ankle sprain 7mins in and did not return to the bench. Haliburton had 24/10a, Siakam with 21-7-6, and Huff added 14pts. Just 3 TOs in second half. Next: Mon. at MIL, first b2b

    @scottagness.bsky.social · View on Blueskyalso reported by ESPN, @UnderdogNBA
  • BlueskyINDIvica ZubacAbout an earlier game

    Ivica Zubac ruled out for the rest of the game.

    @tonyreast.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • XINDJay Huff

    Jay Huff playing center to start the second half so Zubac still out.

    @DustinDopirak · View on X
  • BlueskyINDIvica Zubac

    No Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) on the court at halftime. Huff will start the second half. Now, let's see if the Pacers can start strong and get back to playing their brand of basketball.

    @scottagness.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • XINDJay Huff

    Jay Huff block turns into a Nembhard 3. Huff stepping up when necessary here. Everything's messy but they have to have something out of him and they're getting it.

    @DustinDopirak · View on X
Show 16 older items
  • RotoWireINDIvica ZubacAbout an earlier game

    Ivica Zubac: Questionable to return Sunday — Zubac is questionable to return to Sunday's game in Brooklyn due to a left ankle sprain, Pat Boylan of FanDuel Sports Network Indiana reports.

    Pat Boylan of FanDuel Sports Network Indiana · Original ↗also reported by ESPN
  • BlueskyIND

    Pacers and Nets underway in Brooklyn. Both teams in Classic Edition ABA uniforms. Third game, third different starting lineup for Indiana. The original five for the first time this season.

    @scottagness.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • XINDAaron NesmithAvailable

    Aaron Nesmith (hamstring) listed available to play Sunday.

    @UnderdogNBA · View on Xalso reported by RotoWire
  • BlueskyINDTyrese Haliburton

    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:

    @tonyreast.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • RotoWireMILJaime JaquezAbout an earlier game

    Jaime Jaquez: Nears double-double in defeat — Jaquez posted 21 points (7-13 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 5-7 FT), eight rebounds and four assists across 27 minutes in Saturday's 127-116 loss to the 76ers.

    RotoWire · Original ↗
  • BlueskyIND

    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.

    @tonyreast.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • BlueskyINDAaron NesmithProbable

    Pacers guards McConnell and Sheppard are out for Sunday’s game in Brooklyn. Aaron Nesmith is probable.

    @scottagness.bsky.social · View on Blueskyalso reported by @ScottAgness
  • ESPNINDAaron NesmithAbout an earlier game

    Nesmith (hamstring) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against Brooklyn.

    Left, Hamstring, Strain (return est. 2026-10-25)ESPN · Original ↗
  • ESPNINDT.J. McConnellAbout an earlier game

    McConnell (hamstring) is out for Sunday's game against the Nets.

    Right, Hamstring (return est. 2026-10-26)ESPN · Original ↗
  • RotoWireINDTyrese HaliburtonAbout an earlier game

    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.

    RotoWire · Original ↗
  • RotoWireINDIvica ZubacAbout an earlier game

    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.

    RotoWire · Original ↗
  • XINDJarace Walker

    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.

    @DustinDopirak · View on X
  • BlueskyIND

    Credit to these fans. Pacers are down 23 but they're rocking with a "de-fense" chant right now. A crowd that wanted to see something special for Haliburton's return. And then... a Mavs bucket, a Pacers turnover, and the boos return.

    @tonyreast.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • BlueskyIND

    Heavy boos as the Pacers walk off the court for the first half. Some fans frustrated with the offials, but general anger at how the team just played. It's 77-43 Mavs at the break and feels every bit that bad.

    @tonyreast.bsky.social · View on Bluesky
  • RotoWireMILTyler HerroAbout an earlier game

    Tyler Herro: Scores 34 points in loss — Herro recorded 34 points (12-24 FG, 5-10 FG, 5-7 FT), five rebounds, four assists and a steal across 32 minutes in Friday's 132-125 loss to the Bulls.

    RotoWire · Original ↗
  • RotoWireINDAaron Nesmith

    Aaron Nesmith: Not starting Friday — Nesmith is not starting Friday against the Mavericks, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.

    Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com · Original ↗