October 24, 2026 at 2:41 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Haliburton's Pacers Look to Build on Opening Win in Brooklyn

By How we produce articles

Indiana's returning star and a proven closing punch give the Pacers the edge over a Nets defense with questions.

The Pacers arrive in Brooklyn with something they lacked all of last season: Tyrese Haliburton. After a 19-63 year without him, he returned from a torn Achilles in the opener and finished with 23 points and 12 assists in 33 minutes. He scored 16 of those points in the fourth quarter of a 123-120 win over New Orleans. That is the clearest sign Indiana can close tight games again, and it should matter against a Nets team that may need to win in the final minutes.

His conditioning is the main question. One source described him as admittedly gassed after the opener, while another said he is at 100%. Either way, his workload will be worth watching. If Indiana manages his minutes well, he can again take over late. Pascal Siakam gives him a strong partner after leading the opener with a game-high 30 points, and Zubac's presence at center adds size and scoring around them.

Brooklyn's preseason offered mixed signals. The Nets finished 3-1, and Porter Jr. scored 27 in a 144-128 loss to Miami, so the offense can score. But the defense allowed Miami to shoot 58.5%, which is a concern against Haliburton's playmaking and Siakam's scoring.

Indiana's depth is the risk. Nesmith and McConnell were out with hamstring strains and Furphy was out after ACL surgery, so the guard and wing rotation is thin. Still, the Pacers' top-end talent and late-game execution should be enough. Expect Brooklyn to keep it competitive through three quarters before Indiana pulls away down the stretch.

Prediction: Pacers 118, Nets 111.

All game reports