The New Orleans Pelicans (10-33) face off against the Indiana Pacers (9-32) in a matchup of two struggling teams at the bottom of their respective conferences. This interconference game pits the 15th-place Pelicans in the West against the 15th-place Pacers in the East. With both squads dealing with significant injuries and poor form, expect a gritty, low-stakes battle where defense could shine—or falter—amid depleted rosters. The Pelicans won the first meeting of the season on December 20, 2025, by a score of 128-109, but much has changed since then with ongoing health issues on both sides.
Venue Location
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the home arena for the Pacers, known for its intimate atmosphere and capacity of around 17,274 fans.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. CT). The game will be broadcast on FDSIN, Gulf Coast Sports, Pelicans+, and WTHR-13, with live streaming available on platforms like Fubo (regional restrictions apply).
Recent Team Forms
The Pelicans have been in freefall, going 1-9 in their last 10 games. Their lone win came against the Brooklyn Nets (116-113) on January 14, but they’ve otherwise been outscored and outrebounded consistently. Key losses include a 122-116 defeat to the Denver Nuggets on January 13 and blowouts against Miami (125-106) and Atlanta (117-100). Offensively, they’ve averaged around 106 points in recent outings but have shot poorly from the field (around 44-46%). Defensively, they’ve allowed opponents to shoot efficiently while turning the ball over frequently.
The Pacers have shown slight improvement lately, going 3-7 in their last 10 but winning three of their last five before a loss to Toronto (115-101) on January 14. Notable wins include a narrow 98-96 victory over Boston on January 12, a dominant 123-99 rout of Miami on January 10, and a 114-112 thriller at Charlotte on January 8. They’ve averaged higher scoring in wins (around 112-123 points) but dip to 101 or less in losses. Rebounding and assists have been strengths in victories, but turnovers remain an issue.
| Team | Last 10 Record | Avg. PPG (Last 10) | Avg. Opp. PPG (Last 10) | Key Trend |
| Pelicans | 1-9 | ~108 | ~118 | Struggling with shooting efficiency and defensive stops; only 1 home win in stretch. |
| Pacers | 3-7 | ~110 | ~114 | Better at forcing turnovers in wins; home form remains weak (1-4 in last 5 home games). |
Injury Report
Both teams are ravaged by injuries, which could lead to expanded roles for bench players and lower-scoring affairs.
Pelicans Key Injuries:
Dejounte Murray (PG): Out (right Achilles rupture) – Season-long absence; major blow to playmaking.
Herb Jones (F): Out (right ankle sprain) – Defensive anchor missing; impacts perimeter defense.
Jose Alvarado (PG): Out (left oblique strain) – Expected back around January 23; hurts bench energy and steals.
Others: Hunter Dickinson (C, G-League two-way) – Out; Saddiq Bey (F) – Doubtful (hip flexor strain, per older reports).
Pacers Key Injuries:
Tyrese Haliburton (PG): Out (right Achilles tendon tear) – Missing entire season; devastating loss for offense.
Bennedict Mathurin (G): Out (right thumb sprain) – Out until at least January 17; key scorer sidelined.
Obi Toppin (F): Out (right foot stress fracture) – Out until at least February; affects athleticism and spacing.
Isaiah Jackson (F/C): Out (concussion protocol) – Out until at least January 17; rebounding and rim protection hit.
Others: Taelon Peter (G-League) – Doubtful; Ethan Thompson (G-League) – Questionable.
With star guards out on both sides, expect slower paces and reliance on forwards like Zion Williamson for New Orleans and Pascal Siakam for Indiana.
Key
Player Matchups
This game features intriguing battles between remaining stars and role players stepping up:
Zion Williamson (Pelicans PF) vs. Pascal Siakam (Pacers PF): Williamson’s explosive drives (averaging ~25-27 PPG recently) will test Siakam’s versatility. Siakam (22-34 PPG in recent games) can counter with mid-range scoring and playmaking, but Williamson’s physicality could dominate inside.
Trey Murphy III (Pelicans SF) vs. Andrew Nembhard (Pacers PG): Murphy’s shooting (e.g., 34 points on 12-22 FG vs. Nets) faces Nembhard’s facilitation (29 points, 9 assists vs. Miami). Nembhard’s recent hot streak (double-doubles) could exploit Pelicans’ guard injuries.
Yves Missi (Pelicans C) vs. Myles Turner (Pacers C): Rookie Missi (rebounding focus) vs. Turner’s shot-blocking. Turner’s experience could limit second-chance points for New Orleans.
Bench Battle: Jordan Hawkins/Pelicans reserves vs. Micah Potter/Pacers depth: With injuries, Potter’s recent contributions (14 points, 4 threes vs. Miami) could swing momentum.
Series History
The Pacers lead the all-time series 30-22. In the last 6 meetings, it’s split 3-3, with the Pelicans winning the most recent on December 20, 2025 (128-109). Indiana has won 25 of 44 regular-season games overall, but New Orleans has covered the spread in 66.7% of recent head-to-heads. Home teams have dominated lately, with the Pacers 2-1 at Gainbridge in the past three seasons.
Betting Trends
Spread: Pacers are 21-20 ATS but just 2-4 as home favorites.
Moneyline: Indiana wins only 33.3% as favorites this season.
Over/Under: Pelicans games hit over in 24 of 43 (55.8%); Pacers in 24 of 41 (58.5%). Recent trends: Pelicans unders in 7 of last 10; Pacers overs in 6 of last 10.
Other Trends: Pelicans 9-33 straight-up but 50% ATS on the road. Pacers poor at home (2-16 SU) but cover 60% when favored by <3 points.
Game Odds
New Orleans Pelicans 238.5
Indiana Pacers – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, January 15, 2026
