Honestly, if you've been checking the Indiana Pacers basketball score lately, you might think you're looking at a different team. They aren't the same squad that blitzed the league with a historic offense just a year or two ago. The vibe is different. The numbers are definitely different.
Right now, the Pacers are sitting at 9-31. It’s a tough pill for the Indy faithful to swallow. But on Monday night, January 12, 2026, something weird happened at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers beat the Boston Celtics 98-96. Yeah, you read that right. They held the Celtics—the same Boston team near the top of the East—under 100 points.
It was ugly. It was gritty. It was exactly what Rick Carlisle has been trying to manufacture out of a roster that's missing its heartbeat.
The Reality of the Indiana Pacers Basketball Score Right Now
The big elephant in the room is Tyrese Haliburton. You can't talk about a Pacers game without mentioning he's not in it. He’s out for the season with a torn Achilles, and basically, that changed everything. Without their All-NBA engine, the scoreboards in Indy have cooled off significantly.
Last year, they were scoring 120 like it was nothing. This season? They’re 28th in the league, averaging about 110.8 points per game. That’s a massive drop-off.
In that Boston win, Pascal Siakam carried the load. He put up 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. He’s basically the "everything" guy now. He is averaging 23.5 points on the season, which is respectable, but he’s often an island out there. Jay Huff—who has been a bit of a surprise—chipped in 20 points against the Celtics.
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Breaking Down the Recent Three-Game Win Streak
Nobody saw this coming. Before this little run, the Pacers were on a nightmare stretch. But look at these results:
- Jan 8: A 114-112 nail-biter win over Charlotte.
- Jan 10: They absolutely smoked Miami 123-99.
- Jan 12: The 98-96 defensive masterclass against Boston.
It’s a three-game winning streak. In a season where they’ve only won nine games total, winning three in a row is basically a championship parade for the fans. They’ve moved from 7-31 to 9-31. Still 15th in the East, sure, but there’s finally some life in the building.
Why the Defense is Suddenly Showing Up
For years, the joke was that Indiana didn't play defense. They just tried to outscore you 140 to 135. With Haliburton out, Carlisle has pivoted. He had to.
They are currently 19th in Defensive Rating. That doesn't sound amazing, but compared to where they were, it's a revolution. They are playing slower. The "Pace" is down to 100.7, which is 11th in the league. They aren't sprinting as much because they don't have the personnel to win track meets anymore.
Andrew Nembhard has been a beast on the perimeter. Against Boston, he had 9 assists and stayed in the jersey of whoever he was guarding. He’s averaging 17.5 points and 7.1 assists this year. He’s sort of become the de facto floor general, even if his style is more "bruiser" than "magician."
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The Bennedict Mathurin Factor
Mathurin is the wild card. He had a huge 36-point game in the season opener against OKC (a game they lost in double OT, 141-135). But he’s been battling a right big toe sprain and has been a bit inconsistent.
When he’s on, he’s a walking bucket. When he’s off, the Indiana Pacers basketball score reflects it immediately. He’s averaging 17.8 points, but his efficiency has been up and down—kinda like a roller coaster you didn't ask to get on. He didn't even play in the Boston win, which makes that victory even more head-scratching.
What the Stats Don't Tell You
If you just look at the 9-31 record, you’d think they are tanking. Kevin Pritchard and the front office haven't used that word, though. They are playing a lot of young guys. Jarace Walker is getting 23 minutes a night. Johnny Furphy is getting starts.
They are 30th in the league in Field Goal Percentage (44.3%). That is the real reason the scores are so low. They miss a lot of shots they used to make. Without the gravity Haliburton provides, defenses are collapsing on Siakam and daring the kids to shoot from outside. Sometimes they do. Most times, they don't.
Upcoming Schedule: Can They Keep It Going?
The next few weeks are a gauntlet. If they want to get out of the cellar, they have to survive this:
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- Jan 14 vs. Toronto: A homecoming for Siakam, sort of.
- Jan 16 vs. New Orleans: A battle of two teams struggling with expectations.
- Jan 17 @ Detroit: The Pistons are actually good this year (28-10), so this will be a reality check.
- Jan 21 @ Boston: You know the Celtics are going to want revenge for that 96-point embarrassment.
Actionable Insights for Pacers Fans
Look, this season isn't about the playoffs anymore. The math just doesn't work. But that doesn't mean the Indiana Pacers basketball score doesn't matter.
If you're following the team, watch the development of Jarace Walker. His defensive versatility is the future. Also, keep an eye on Jay Huff's rim protection; he’s leading the team with over 2 blocks per game.
Check the box scores specifically for "Points in the Paint." When the Pacers win, they usually win inside. They aren't a three-point juggernaut this year (shooting 34-35% as a team), so they have to manufacture points at the rim.
The best way to track them is through the FanDuel Sports Network Indiana or by listening to 1070 The Fan. Don't expect 130 points. Expect a fight. If they keep playing defense like they did against the Celtics, they might actually climb out of that 15th spot before the All-Star break.
Keep an eye on the injury report for Mathurin's return. His scoring gravity is the only thing that can elevate this offense back to a league-average level while Haliburton watches from the sidelines.
Next Steps for Tracking the Pacers:
- Monitor the Points in the Paint differential in the next three home games.
- Watch Andrew Nembhard's assist-to-turnover ratio as it's the best predictor of a Pacers win right now.
- Check the Wednesday night score against Toronto to see if the defensive intensity carries over.