What a difference a season makes. Last season, the Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals and were the talk of the entire Association. Now in 2025-26, the expectations are low as the franchise does not have star player Tyrese Haliburton in the lineup. Haliburton is out for the entire 2025-26 NBA season with an Achilles injury suffered in game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals.
It was a terrible start for the Pacers in 2025-26. They lost their first five games. Indiana simply could not stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in their season opener, and then were clobbered by the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks.
Heading into Saturday night, the Pacers were an 11.5 point underdog against the Golden State Warriors. However, Indiana came through with a 114-109 win. Indiana was the first double digit underdog to come through with a victory this season, and it was their first win of the season.
The reason for the Pacers victory was because of a dominant fourth quarter. Heading into the final 12 minutes, the Warriors had an 88-82 lead, only to be outscored 32-21 in the final stanza.
Four Pacers reached double digits in scoring. Small forward Aaron Nesmith of Charleston, South Carolina had 31 points. Power forward Pascal Siakam of Douala, Cameroon had 27 points. Point guard Quenton Jackson of Los Angeles, California had 25 points, and center Isaiah Jackson of Pontiac, Michigan had 10 points.
Quenton Jackson had the double double as he had 10 assists. It was the first double-double of his NBA career. Indiana next plays Milwaukee on Monday night. Milwaukee is a 5.5 point favourite.
