Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT)
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: Gulf Coast Sports / WVUE / Pelicans+ (Pelicans), DAZN-IND (Pacers); NBA League Pass available with blackouts
This is the 2026-27 regular-season opener for both teams. Indiana features the highly anticipated return of Tyrese Haliburton after missing the entire 2025-26 season (Achilles injury suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals). New Orleans opens at home with Zion Williamson and a mostly healthy roster after a 26-56 campaign.
Current Rosters / Key Players
Pacers: Core includes Tyrese Haliburton (All-Star point guard making his regular-season return), Pascal Siakam (primary scorer/forward), Andrew Nembhard, Ivica Zubac (acquired center), Kelly Oubre Jr. (expected to start in Nesmith’s place), Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, and Larry Nance Jr. Projected starters: Haliburton, Nembhard, Oubre, Siakam, Zubac.
Pelicans: Led by Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III (team’s top scorer last season at ~21.5 PPG), Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Yves Missi (center), Saddiq Bey, Jordan Poole, Bennedict Mathurin, and young contributors like Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Projected starters: Murray, Murphy III, Jones, Williamson, Missi.
Injury Report
Pacers:
Johnny Furphy (G) – Out (right ACL repair/surgery; expected midseason return)
T.J. McConnell (G) – Out (right hamstring strain)
Aaron Nesmith (G/F) – Out (left hamstring strain)
Braden Smith (G, two-way) – Doubtful
Kobe Brown and Jalen Slawson (two-ways) – Probable
Pelicans: No injuries listed (Dejounte Murray expected back after missing late preseason with a toe contusion).
Indiana is without two key rotation players (Nesmith and McConnell) plus Furphy, while New Orleans is at full strength.
Key Player Matchups
Tyrese Haliburton / Andrew Nembhard vs. Dejounte Murray / Herbert Jones: Elite playmaking and tempo control for the Pacers against New Orleans’ defensive-minded guards. Haliburton’s return is the biggest storyline.
Pascal Siakam / Kelly Oubre vs. Zion Williamson / Trey Murphy III: Scoring and physicality on the wings/forwards. Zion’s interior dominance vs. Siakam’s versatility.
Ivica Zubac vs. Yves Missi: Size and rim protection battle in the paint.
Overall style: Indiana’s pace-and-space offense (Haliburton-led) against New Orleans’ athleticism and home energy. Expect transition opportunities and three-point volume.
Recent Team Forms
Both are 0-0.
Preseason: Pacers mixed (win vs. Minnesota; close losses to Atlanta, Oklahoma City in OT, and Milwaukee in OT). Pelicans strong at 3-1 (wins over Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Washington; loss at Miami).
2025-26 regular season: Pacers struggled significantly without Haliburton (reports of a poor record); Pelicans finished 26-56.
Series History
Pacers won the most recent meeting (January 16, 2026: 127-119 at Indiana). However, Indiana has lost its last five games in New Orleans, with its most recent road win there dating to January 2021 (overtime). Overall all-time series favors the Pacers, but home-court has been a challenge.
Betting Trends
Road favorites reflect Haliburton’s return and Indiana’s higher ceiling despite absences.
High total aligns with both teams’ offensive capabilities.
Some models lean toward the home underdog or a closer game due to Indiana’s missing pieces and historical struggles in New Orleans.
Game Odds
Indiana Pacers – 3.5
New Orleans Pelicans 239
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, October 20, 2026
