If you’re checking your phone and asking what's the score of the pacer game, I hope you’re sitting down. Honestly, it wasn't pretty. The Indiana Pacers just wrapped up a Saturday night disaster in Detroit that fans are probably going to want to scrub from their collective memory.
The final buzzer at Little Caesars Arena saw the Detroit Pistons crush the Indiana Pacers 121-78.
Yeah, you read that right. A 43-point loss. In a season that has felt like a bit of a rollercoaster for Rick Carlisle’s squad, this was definitely the bottom of a very steep drop. If you missed the game, you're probably wondering how a professional NBA team only manages 78 points in the modern era.
Breaking Down the 121-78 Loss
Usually, when someone asks what's the score of the pacer game, they expect a tight contest with Tyrese Haliburton or Pascal Siakam trading buckets. Not this time. Indiana walked into Detroit shorthanded and basically got run off the floor before the first quarter even ended.
The Pacers were missing almost their entire core. Pascal Siakam took a rest day, while Benedict Mathurin (thumb), Andrew Nembhard (back), and Obi Toppin (foot) were all sidelined with injuries. Even T.J. McConnell was out with a knee issue.
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What was left? A lineup that looked more like a G-League showcase than an NBA roster.
- First Quarter Nightmare: Indiana missed 10 of their first 11 shots. They turned the ball over five times in the first seven minutes.
- The Half-Time Score: By the time the second quarter ended, Detroit led 59-25.
- The Shooting Woes: The Pacers shot a miserable 23.3% from the floor in the first half. Their three-point shooting was even worse, sitting at a cold 6% (1-for-18).
Jarace Walker tried his best to keep things afloat, leading the team with 13 points, but when your leading scorer only has 13, you aren't winning many games in 2026. Tony Bradley chipped in 12, but the rest of the box score looks like a series of typos.
Why This Score Matters for the Season
It’s easy to look at a 43-point blowout and say "it’s just one game," but for the Pacers, this reflects a deeper struggle with depth and health. Currently sitting at 10-33 and 15th in the Eastern Conference, the margin for error has basically vanished.
Detroit, meanwhile, looked like a juggernaut. Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson both put up 16 points in limited minutes. They didn't even need their starters for most of the second half. J.B. Bickerstaff pulled his main guys in the third quarter because the lead had already ballooned to 44 points.
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This loss matched the ninth-biggest win in the history of the Pistons franchise. For Indiana, it was a reminder of how much they rely on Siakam and the secondary playmaking of Nembhard and McConnell. Without them, the offense simply had no rhythm.
Looking Ahead to Philadelphia
If you are still searching for what's the score of the pacer game on Sunday, the good news is there isn't one today. The team is currently traveling to Philly. They play the 76ers on Monday, January 19, at 7:00 PM EST at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The 76ers are coming in at 22-18 and are heavy favorites. Tyrese Maxey is currently on a tear, averaging over 30 points a game lately. If the Pacers don't get at least one or two of their starters back from the injury report, Monday night could be another long evening for the Blue and Gold.
How to Track Live Pacers Scores
Since NBA schedules are frantic, the "current" score changes every few days. To stay updated without the lag of some slower sports apps, here are the most reliable ways to see the score in real-time:
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- NBA App / League Pass: This is the gold standard for raw data and play-by-play.
- StatMuse: Great for contextualizing how bad (or good) a score actually is compared to team history.
- Local Radio: 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis is still the best way to get the vibe of the game if you're driving.
The 2025-26 season has been a test of patience for Indy fans. The "Pace" in Pacers has been missing lately, replaced by a stagnant offense that struggles to crack 100 points when the stars are out.
Actionable Next Steps
Keep a close eye on the official injury report leading up to Monday's tip-off in Philadelphia. If Siakam and Mathurin remain out, the point spread will likely be massive. Fans looking to attend the next home game should mark January 28 on their calendars, when the Chicago Bulls visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tickets are currently hovering around $14 for the upper balcony, reflecting the team's current slump.
Monitor the status of Andrew Nembhard’s back injury specifically, as his absence has been the primary reason the Pacers' assist-to-turnover ratio has plummeted over the last ten games. Until the guard rotation is healthy, expect these low-scoring outings to continue.