The 2025-26 NBA season features a matchup between two struggling teams at the bottom of their respective conferences: the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Both squads have endured tough starts, plagued by injuries and inconsistencies, but the Pelicans are showing signs of life with a recent winning streak, while the Pacers continue to slide. This interconference clash offers an opportunity for either team to build momentum heading into the holiday break, with defensive lapses and high-scoring potential likely to define the action.
Venue Location
The game will be held at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. This 16,867-seat arena has been the Pelicans’ home since 2002 and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, especially during rare winning stretches.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CT local time). The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (FDSIN) for Pacers fans, Gulf Coast Sports and Pelicans+ for New Orleans viewers, with streaming available on NBA League Pass.
Team Records
Indiana Pacers: 6-21, 14th in the Eastern Conference (5th in Central Division).
New Orleans Pelicans: 6-22, 15th in the Western Conference (5th in Southwest Division).
Recent Team Forms
The Pacers are mired in a slump, having lost their last three games and seven of their last ten. Their most recent defeat was a narrow 114-113 home loss to the New York Knicks on December 18, where they nearly mounted a comeback but fell short due to late-game execution issues. Prior setbacks include a 115-105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on December 12 and a defeat to the Washington Wizards on December 14. Offensively, they’ve averaged 110.2 points over their last five, but their defense has surrendered 118.4 points, highlighting perimeter vulnerabilities without key players.
In contrast, the Pelicans are on an upswing with a three-game winning streak, their first of the season. They capped it with a stunning 133-128 overtime comeback victory over the Houston Rockets on December 18, erasing a 25-point deficit behind strong bench play. Earlier wins included triumphs over the Minnesota Timberwolves, boosting their confidence at home where they’ve gone 3-12 overall but shown improvement lately. Over their last five, they’ve averaged 122.6 points while allowing 120.8, relying on transition scoring to offset defensive woes.
| Team | Last 5 Games | Streak | Points For/Against (Last 5) | FG% (Season) | 3PT% (Season) |
| Indiana Pacers | 1-4 | L3 | 110.2 / 118.4 | 45.8% | 35.1% |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 3-2 | W3 | 122.6 / 120.8 | 46.2% | 36.4% |
Series History
The Pacers hold a historical edge over the Pelicans, leading the all-time regular-season series 30-21. They’ve met 51 times, with Indiana winning the majority, including a strong 15-10 record on the road in New Orleans. Recent encounters have been competitive: The Pelicans won their last meeting on July 18, 2025 (113-104, though date formats vary in records), but Indiana took the prior game on December 15, 2024 (119-104). Over the last five matchups, the home team has won three times, and games have averaged 220.8 total points. This is the first of two scheduled games this season, with a rematch set for later in 2026.
Injury Report
Indiana Pacers: Guard Tyrese Haliburton (Out – Right Achilles tendon surgery, missing entire season); Forward Obi Toppin (Out – Right foot stress fracture); Center Tony Bradley (Questionable – Undisclosed injury). These absences have decimated Indiana’s playmaking and frontcourt depth, forcing reliance on younger players and contributing to their poor form. No additional day-to-day issues reported.
New Orleans Pelicans: Guard Trey Alexander (Out – G League two-way assignment); Center Hunter Dickinson (Out – G League assignment). The Pelicans are relatively healthy compared to Indiana, with core players like Zion Williamson available despite earlier calf concerns for others (cleared). This gives New Orleans a significant edge in depth.
Player Matchups
Several key battles could determine the game’s flow, pitting Indiana’s veteran forwards against New Orleans’ athletic core:
Pascal Siakam (IND, F) vs. Zion Williamson (NOP, F): Siakam, leading the Pacers with 22.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, brings scoring versatility but faces Williamson (24.6 points, 9.8 rebounds in limited action), whose explosive drives could overwhelm Indiana’s depleted frontcourt. Williamson’s recent health has fueled the Pelicans’ streak.
Andrew Nembhard (IND, G) vs. Jordan Poole (NOP, G): With Haliburton out, Nembhard (15.8 points, 6.2 assists) handles primary ball duties, but Poole (18.3 points, efficient from deep) could exploit mismatches with his scoring burst, especially in transition.
Myles Turner (IND, C) vs. Saddiq Bey (NOP, F): Turner (14.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, shot-blocking) anchors Indiana’s paint, but Bey’s season-high 29 points in the recent comeback win highlight his perimeter threat (15.1 points, 36% from three), potentially pulling Turner out of position.
Aaron Nesmith (IND, F) vs. Trey Murphy III (NOP, F): Nesmith’s defense (12.6 points) will test Murphy (20.4 points, leading Pelicans scorer), whose three-point shooting (38%) could open the floor for New Orleans.
These matchups favor the Pelicans’ health and home energy against Indiana’s injury-hit lineup.
Betting Trends
Both teams have been unpredictable against the spread (ATS) this season, but recent patterns emerge. The Pacers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall but struggle on the road (5-7 ATS), going 5-15 straight up (SU) in their last 20. The under has hit in four of Indiana’s last five, reflecting low-scoring defensive battles amid injuries. The Pelicans are 4-1 ATS in their last five games, buoyed by their streak, and 7-5 ATS on the road, though home trends show 3-9 ATS in Smoothie King Center. In head-to-heads, the under has cashed in six of the last ten meetings, with the home team covering 60% of the time. League-wide December trends favor unders in 52% of games involving bottom-feeders, due to fatigue and conservative play.
Game Odds
Indiana Pacers 233.5
New Orleans Pelicans – 2.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 19, 2025
