Nets vs. Pacers preview: Still looking for that 1st win, part 8

SB Nation

We officially enter into Day 14 of a winless 2025/26 season, the two week-mark of the deep tank. The Brooklyn Nets struggles have continued as of late as they are coming off a less embarrassing but still

demeaning loss. Even without their superstar in Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to pull off a second half surge en route to a 125-109 win. But guess what, we played harder!

Tonight, the Nets will be playing an Indiana Pacers squad that also does not have their superstar, Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season after his Game 7 NBA Finals Achilles rupture. To be more specific, the Pacers will go into tonight’s game without much of their main roster, which has led them to their own pitiful 1-6 record.

The battle between both losing records will be about who wants it more, and with how the Nets played in their last outing, they could have a chance!

Where to Watch

Catch the action at 7:00 p.m. ET on the YES Network and streaming on the Gotham Sports App.

Injuries

Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, and Danny Wolf are with the Long Island Nets. Drake Powell (ankle) and Haywood Highsmith (knee) will also be out.

Hold your breath for this one. Tyrese Haliburton (right achilles), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Kam Jones (back), Obi Toppin (foot), Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), Benedict Mathurin (toe), Quenton Jackson (hamstring), and Johnny Furphy (ankle) will all be out tonight. Phew.

The Game

The Indiana Pacers are a great example in the NBA of how time can be a component of an organization’s downfall. Just some months ago, the Pacers were playing a game 7 of the NBA Finals. And now, simply because of injuries and time, they sit with one of the worst records in the beginning of the season. Crazy stuff.

Back to tonight’s matchup. Though the Pacers do not have much of a backcourt right now, their frontcourt could still be difficult to manage. Pascal Siakam, who I believe is the most underrated player in the league, is averaging 26 PPG, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists to start the year. Known to get to his spots efficiently since he helped the Raptors secure a championship in 2019, Siakam is amongst the elite.

Isaiah Jackson is also coming off a big performance from the Pacers’ two point loss against the Bucks, where he went for 21 and 10. Claxton and Clowney could have their hands full, but if they fight, they could hold their own.

All the guards can contribute greatly in this game. Aaron Nesmith will probably be tasked with guarding Cam Thomas, and he can guard. Which means Egor, Tyrese Martin, Terence Mann, etc. can use the opportunity to get open looks and find opportunities for both themselves and the team to possibly lead the Nets to their first win

Player to Watch: Jarace Walker

In addition to Siakam, Jarace Walker is a forward on the Pacers who can see a lot of the ball handling duties. Despite only shooting 34% on the season, Walker has athleticism and ability that can take him far, especially once this team gets healthy.

Only 22, the 6’7” 235-pound Houston product is someone the Pacers believe is a long term project and one that will remain in the rotation after everyone gets healthy. He missed the entirety of the NBA Finals last season with an ankle injury. Now, he’s getting another chance.

From the Vault

Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, a soulful mezzo-soprano who provided backing vocals on such 1960s classics as “Suspicious Minds” and “When a Man Loves a Woman” and was a featured singer with the Grateful Dead for much of the 1970s, died this week in Nashville at the age of 78. Although not as well known as Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, she had many fans among Dead Heads. Here’s her last interview talking about her experiences with the Dead.