Pacers Face Nets in Draft Lottery Clash

The Indiana Pacers, holding the NBA's second-worst record at 18-61, face the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night in Brooklyn, a matchup between two teams jockeying for prime draft lottery positioning as the regular season winds down. Both squads, with young talent stepping up amid widespread injuries, view the game as a chance to showcase players while securing better odds in the loaded 2026 draft.

The Pacers, who reached Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder, have endured a stark reversal without star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. The two-time All-Star tore his right Achilles tendon in that decisive game and has missed the entire 2025-26 campaign. On Wednesday, Haliburton shared positive news on social media, announcing he had participated in 5-on-5 basketball for the first time since the injury. "Played 5 on 5 today for first time since June," he posted on X, marking Week 41 of his recovery. Haliburton, who has dealt with challenges including weight gain, a bout of shingles that sidelined him from the team in late February, and emotional ups and downs, expressed optimism in a January podcast appearance. "The process has sucked, man," he...