Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (FDSIN) / FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSSE)
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Hornets: 7-3 in their last 10 (W2 streak). They are rolling, including an 8-game road winning streak and a dominant 131-99 win over the Bulls on Feb. 24. Averaging 113.6 PPG, 48.4 RPG, and holding opponents to 107.0 PPG in that span while shooting efficiently in stretches.
Pacers: 2-8 in their last 10 (L4 streak, including a 4-game home losing skid). They are averaging just 115.8 PPG while allowing 123.2 PPG in that stretch, with poor defensive metrics across the board.
Injury Report
Charlotte Hornets
- Liam McNeeley (G) – Day-to-Day (ankle)
Indiana Pacers (heavily depleted)
- Out: Aaron Nesmith (ankle), Ivica Zubac (ankle), Johnny Furphy (knee – season), Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles – season)
- Doubtful: Pascal Siakam (wrist)
- Questionable: Obi Toppin (foot – recently upgraded, possible return), Andrew Nembhard (lower back/injury management), plus several two-way players (Quenton Jackson, Taelon Peter, Ethan Thompson)
The Pacers are without their franchise point guard (Haliburton), starting center (Zubac), and a key wing (Nesmith), with Siakam highly uncertain. This severely limits their spacing, rim protection, and playmaking.
Projected Starters & Key Player Matchups
Hornets (Projected)
- G: LaMelo Ball (20.5 PPG, 6.3 APG over last 10)
- G: Brandon Miller
- F: Kon Knueppel (rookie breakout: 19.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.5 APG over last 10)
- F: Miles Bridges or similar
- C: Moussa Diabate (team-leading 8.6 RPG; Hornets rank 4th in rebounds at 46.1 per game)
Pacers (Projected, heavily makeshift)
- G: Andrew Nembhard (17.4 PPG, solid shooter)
- G: ? (thin backcourt)
- F: Jarace Walker (14.4 PPG over last 10)
- F: ? (Siakam if active; otherwise thin)
- C: ? (Zubac out)
Key Matchups
- LaMelo Ball vs. Pacers’ backcourt (Nembhard/questionables): Ball’s playmaking and scoring (plus career-high 10 threes in a recent win) exploit Indiana’s depleted perimeter defense.
- Hornets frontcourt rebounding (Diabate + others) vs. Pacers’ thin interior: Charlotte dominates the glass (46.1 RPG league 4th); Pacers rank near bottom in rebounding.
- Kon Knueppel / Brandon Miller scoring vs. makeshift Pacers wings: Youthful Hornets wings feast on mismatches against an injury-riddled Indiana group.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
Pacers lead the season series 2-0:
- Nov. 19, 2025 (at IND): Pacers 127-118
- Jan. 8, 2026 (at CHA): Pacers 114-112
All-time, Pacers lead 77-56, but this year’s meetings were competitive despite Indiana’s overall struggles. With massive injury differences now, the dynamic has shifted heavily.
Betting Trends
- Hornets are 36-22-1 ATS this season and 8-1-1 ATS in last 10. They are 20-11-0 ATS on the road and have covered in all of their last 5 as favorites.
- Pacers are 28-?? ATS overall but poor recently (3-7 ATS in last 10) and just 17-13 ATS at home. They are 0-2 ATS vs. Hornets this season.
- Hornets are 19-3 ATS when scoring >119.2 PPG (Pacers allow 119.2).
- Over/Under: League-wide trends lean toward the under in Pacers home games lately (they hit over only 44% overall, 50% at home), but totals have been higher in recent Hornets road wins.
Game Odds
Charlotte Hornets – 12.5
Indiana Pacers 229.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
