When the Indiana Pacers vs Pelicans Orleans Pelicans met Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the oddsmakers were expecting a shootout. With an over/under set at a massive 240.5, fans braced for a track meet. Instead, they got a masterclass in mid-season grit as two teams, battered by injuries and struggling for identity, turned the hardwood into a battlefield.
The Backdrop: Two Teams at a Crossroads
The context of this game was defined by what was missing. The Pelicans rolled into Indianapolis without the defensive teeth of Herb Jones or the playmaking of Dejounte Murray. Meanwhile, Indiana was missing its heartbeat, Tyrese Haliburton, alongside key contributors like Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin Pacers vs Pelicans
Coming in, the Pelicans were looking to build on a slump-busting win against Brooklyn, while the Pacers were quietly putting together a solid stretch, having won three of their last four. The stakes were simple: who could weather the attrition and find a second-half spark?
Siakam and Huff: Pacers vs Pelicans: Who Will Emerge Victorius
While Indiana’s offense has struggled this season—often looking like a “piano without wheels”—their defense has suddenly become one of the league’s most feared units. On Friday, that trend reached a crescendo Pacers vs Pelicans.
Pascal Siakam set the tone early, playing with the poise of a champion and the energy of a rookie. But the real story at the rim was Jay Huff. The 7-footer has transformed Indiana’s interior, and his shot-blocking (ranking 3rd in the NBA) was on full display. Alongside Tony Bradley, Huff turned the paint into a “no-fly zone” for New Orleans, repeatedly swatting away attempts from Pelicans bigs Karlo Matkovic and Derik Queen.
Zion vs. The Under: A Statistical Tug-of-War
The Pelicans leaned heavily on Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Murphy, who has been scorching the nets in early 2026—including a 42-point masterpiece against the Lakers—found the going much tougher in Indianapolis. Indiana shadowed him with Aaron Nesmith, forcing the Pelicans into a grind-it-out style they clearly didn’t enjoy.
Despite Zion’s raw power, the game stayed well under the projected total. It wasn’t the offensive explosion the betting markets predicted, but it was the kind of performance coach Rick Carlisle lives for: rotations were crisp, help defense was loud, and the effort was relentless Pacers vs Pelicans.
Defining Moments
The energy in Gainbridge Fieldhouse shifted late in the half when T.J. McConnell began doing “T.J. things.” His defensive pestering led to several transition buckets, capped off by a spirited exchange with rookie Trey Alexander that got the home crowd on its feet Pacers vs Pelicans.
On the other side, Willie Green tried to spark a comeback by leaning on his bench, with Jeremiah Fears and Saddiq Bey providing some much-needed hustle. However, the Pelicans’ 3-15 road record seemed to weigh on them as the game tightened.
The Takeaway
This wasn’t a game for the highlight reels, but it was a game for the locker room. For an Indiana team sitting at the bottom of the East, holding high-powered offenses like the Pelicans and Celtics under 100 points recently isn’t a fluke—it’s a philosophy.
As the buzzer approached, it was clear that while both teams are facing uphill battles in their respective conferences, the Pacers have found a defensive blueprint that works. For New Orleans, the search for road consistency continues, but for Indiana, the “blue-collar” identity is back in a big way.