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Back to NBA games · Oct 21, 2026

Indiana Pacers at New Orleans Pelicans, Oct 21, 2026

NBA · 2026-27Oct 21, 2026 · FinalRegular season

Indiana Pacers

123AT

New Orleans Pelicans

120
Pelicans vs Pacers: every meeting
STORY

Final

From the verified box score; records count this game

Late ShowThriller

Pacers erase 10-point halftime hole, edge Pelicans late

Pascal Siakam scored 8 straight Pacers points and Tyrese Haliburton's floater with 1:23 left put Indiana ahead for good in a game of 13 lead changes.

NightlyHoops desk · Late ShowWritten by AI (Claude Opus 5.5) from the box score and play-by-play. Every number and name was checked against them.

NEW ORLEANS — The Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 on Wednesday night, erasing a 10-point halftime deficit before Tyrese Haliburton's floater with 1:23 left put them ahead for good.

It was a game of 13 lead changes and 10 ties, and of two different halves. The Pelicans led 66-56 at the break. The Pacers won the second half 67-54.

Indiana opened sharp, a 10-0 run in the first quarter building a 23-14 lead, its largest. Then it went 4:31 without a field goal to start the second, and New Orleans ran off 12 straight points to turn 38-31 into 38-43. Obi Toppin answered with 10 straight Pacers points, the last of them putting Indiana back in front at 48-45. The Pelicans pulled away again. A 9-0 run made it 50-58, and Zion Williamson scored their last 8 points of the half, part of his 12 in the quarter.

Indiana chipped back to 86-92 after three quarters, then went ahead with an 8-0 run that turned 100-104 into 108-104, Andrew Nembhard scoring the last four. From there the teams traded baskets.

Pascal Siakam scored 8 straight Pacers points between 4:00 and 2:32, on a hook, two jumpers and an alley-oop. He finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 13-of-23 shooting. Haliburton scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth. He also had 12 assists, and Toppin added 20 off the bench.

New Orleans made 34 of 37 free throws. Dejounte Murray led the Pelicans with 23 points, and Williamson finished with 22.

Quenton Jackson's two free throws with 0:45.7 left were the game's last points. Williamson missed a driving layup, then Jeremiah Fears and Williamson missed pull-up 3-pointers around two Indiana turnovers. Ivica Zubac missed two free throws with 0:01.4 left, and the Pelicans' heave at the buzzer did not fall.

Who led, and by how much Hover or tap for the score at any moment

IND ahead above the line · NOP ahead below

20101020Q1Q2Q3Q4IND by 9NOP by 10
The margin through the game, from the play-by-play. Above the line IND leads; below it, NOP.

How it ended

  1. 4:14Zion Williamson makes two free throws108-108
  2. 3:48Dejounte Murray banks in a floater and adds the free throw110-111
  3. 2:50Pascal Siakam hits a floater114-113
  4. 2:32Siakam finishes a running alley-oop116-113
  5. 2:16Williamson scores on a finger roll and makes the free throw116-116
  6. 2:00Tyrese Haliburton hits a driving floater118-116
  7. 1:40Yves Missi tips in a dunk118-118
  8. 1:23Haliburton hits a floater and the free throw121-118
  9. 1:11Missi dunks121-120
  10. 0:45.7Quenton Jackson makes two free throws123-120
Sources: the fact sheet this story was written from
  • GAME: Indiana Pacers (IND) at New Orleans Pelicans (NOP), Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in New Orleans. NBA regular season.
  • FINAL: Pacers 123, Pelicans 120. (IND 123, NOP 120.) Final margin: 3.
  • POINTS BY QUARTER: IND 38 18 30 37; NOP 31 35 26 28.
  • SCORE AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD (IND-NOP): Q1 38-31, Q2 56-66, Q3 86-92, Q4 123-120.
  • HALVES: first half, Pacers 56, Pelicans 66; second half, Pacers 67, Pelicans 54.
  • LARGEST LEADS: IND 9 (23-14, 6:12 left in the 1st quarter); NOP 10 (56-66, 0:00 left in the 2nd quarter). Scores are IND-NOP.
  • LEAD CHANGES: 13. TIES: 10.
  • Pacers went ahead for good with 1:23 left in the 4th quarter, at 120-118 (Tyrese Haliburton, 11' driving floating Jump Shot).
  • RUNS (8 or more unanswered points; each scorer's points in the run):
  • - IND 10-0 from 7:51 left in the 1st quarter to 6:12 left in the 1st quarter, 13-14 to 23-14 (Ivica Zubac 2, Tyrese Haliburton 2, Andrew Nembhard 3, Obi Toppin 3)
  • - NOP 12-0 from 11:39 left in the 2nd quarter to 8:12 left in the 2nd quarter, 38-31 to 38-43 (Herbert Jones 2, Dejounte Murray 4, Derik Queen 2, Zion Williamson 2, Yves Missi 2)
  • - NOP 9-0 from 3:54 left in the 2nd quarter to 1:32 left in the 2nd quarter, 50-49 to 50-58 (Yves Missi 2, Zion Williamson 2, Dejounte Murray 2, Saddiq Bey 3)
  • - IND 8-0 from 6:31 left in the 4th quarter to 5:06 left in the 4th quarter, 100-104 to 108-104 (Pascal Siakam 2, Quenton Jackson 2, Andrew Nembhard 4)
  • STRAIGHT TEAM POINTS BY ONE PLAYER (the other team may score in between):
  • - Obi Toppin scored 10 straight Pacers points, from 7:29 left in the 2nd quarter to 5:27 left in the 2nd quarter (41-43, 42-45, 44-45, 45-45, 48-45).
  • - Pascal Siakam scored 8 straight Pacers points, from 4:00 left in the 4th quarter to 2:32 left in the 4th quarter (110-108, 112-111, 114-113, 116-113).
  • - Zion Williamson scored 8 straight Pelicans points, from 0:58.2 left in the 2nd quarter to 0:00 left in the 2nd quarter (52-61, 54-63, 56-66).
  • DROUGHT: Pacers went 4:31 of game clock without a field goal in the 2nd quarter, from 12:00 to 7:29 left.
  • TIMELINE (the facts above in game order, each at the moment it began; a later line began later; scores IND-NOP):
  • - 7:51 to 6:12 left in the 1st quarter: IND 10-0 run, 13-14 to 23-14.
  • - 6:12 left in the 1st quarter: IND leads by 9, its largest lead (23-14).
  • - 12:00 to 7:29 left in the 2nd quarter: Pacers go without a field goal (4:31).
  • - End of the 1st quarter: 38-31.
  • - 11:39 to 8:12 left in the 2nd quarter: NOP 12-0 run, 38-31 to 38-43.
  • - 7:29 to 5:27 left in the 2nd quarter: Obi Toppin scores 10 straight Pacers points (41-43 after the first, 48-45 after the last).
  • - 3:54 to 1:32 left in the 2nd quarter: NOP 9-0 run, 50-49 to 50-58.
  • - 0:58.2 to 0:00 left in the 2nd quarter: Zion Williamson scores 8 straight Pelicans points (52-61 after the first, 56-66 after the last).
  • - 0:00 left in the 2nd quarter: NOP leads by 10, its largest lead (56-66).
  • - End of the 2nd quarter: 56-66.
  • - End of the 3rd quarter: 86-92.
  • - 6:31 to 5:06 left in the 4th quarter: IND 8-0 run, 100-104 to 108-104.
  • - 4:00 to 2:32 left in the 4th quarter: Pascal Siakam scores 8 straight Pacers points (110-108 after the first, 116-113 after the last).
  • - 1:23 left in the 4th quarter: Pacers go ahead for good, 120-118.
  • - End of the 4th quarter: 123-120.
  • TEAM TOTALS:
  • - IND: FG 47-90 (52.2%), 3PT 9-30 (30.0%), FT 20-29, 43 rebounds (9 offensive), 29 assists, 13 turnovers, 9 steals, 4 blocks, 32 bench points
  • - NOP: FG 38-89 (42.7%), 3PT 10-30 (33.3%), FT 34-37, 49 rebounds (14 offensive), 23 assists, 14 turnovers, 11 steals, 6 blocks, 43 bench points
  • PLAYERS, Indiana Pacers:
  • - Pascal Siakam (starter, 35 min): 30 pts, 8 reb (2 off), 1 ast, FG 13-23, 3PT 1-3, FT 3-8, 1 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +6 | points by period 9-4-5-12
  • - Tyrese Haliburton (starter, 34 min): 23 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 12 ast, FG 8-15, 3PT 2-6, FT 5-5, 1 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov, 0 fouls, +/- -4 | points by period 7-0-3-13
  • - Obi Toppin (bench, 25 min): 20 pts, 3 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 7-12, 3PT 4-9, FT 2-3, 2 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +3 | points by period 3-10-7-0
  • - Andrew Nembhard (starter, 34 min): 18 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 9 ast, FG 6-10, 3PT 0-3, FT 6-7, 1 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov, 4 fouls, +/- +9 | points by period 8-2-4-4
  • - Ivica Zubac (starter, 34 min): 16 pts, 15 reb (4 off), 0 ast, FG 7-12, 3PT 0-0, FT 2-4, 0 stl, 2 blk, 1 tov, 5 fouls, +/- +11 | points by period 6-2-4-4
  • - Quenton Jackson (bench, 16 min): 6 pts, 4 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 2-3, 3PT 0-0, FT 2-2, 3 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 0 fouls, +/- 0 | points by period 0-0-2-4
  • - Kelly Oubre Jr. (starter, 28 min): 4 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 3 ast, FG 2-5, 3PT 0-3, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 1 blk, 1 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +8 | points by period 2-0-2-0
  • - Ben Sheppard (bench, 12 min): 3 pts, 1 reb (1 off), 0 ast, FG 1-3, 3PT 1-2, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 4 fouls, +/- -2 | points by period 0-0-3-0
  • - Jarace Walker (bench, 19 min): 3 pts, 6 reb (0 off), 2 ast, FG 1-6, 3PT 1-3, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 1 blk, 4 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -5 | points by period 3-0-0-0
  • - Larry Nance Jr. (bench, 5 min): 0 pts, 0 reb (0 off), 0 ast, FG 0-1, 3PT 0-1, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -11
  • PLAYERS, New Orleans Pelicans:
  • - Dejounte Murray (starter, 34 min): 23 pts, 3 reb (2 off), 7 ast, FG 9-18, 3PT 2-5, FT 3-3, 2 stl, 3 blk, 4 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -6 | points by period 3-8-7-5
  • - Zion Williamson (starter, 32 min): 22 pts, 3 reb (1 off), 3 ast, FG 7-16, 3PT 2-4, FT 6-6, 3 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +1 | points by period 3-12-2-5
  • - Saddiq Bey (bench, 24 min): 13 pts, 5 reb (0 off), 0 ast, FG 4-9, 3PT 2-4, FT 3-3, 0 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov, 1 foul, +/- +1 | points by period 5-3-2-3
  • - Yves Missi (starter, 30 min): 13 pts, 14 reb (7 off), 5 ast, FG 5-6, 3PT 0-0, FT 3-4, 2 stl, 3 blk, 1 tov, 3 fouls, +/- -7 | points by period 4-5-0-4
  • - Bennedict Mathurin (bench, 18 min): 11 pts, 3 reb (1 off), 2 ast, FG 3-7, 3PT 0-3, FT 5-6, 1 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 3 fouls, +/- -5 | points by period 6-0-4-1
  • - Trey Murphy III (starter, 32 min): 11 pts, 4 reb (0 off), 1 ast, FG 4-11, 3PT 2-5, FT 1-1, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -8 | points by period 2-3-3-3
  • - Derik Queen (bench, 18 min): 10 pts, 10 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 2-4, 3PT 0-0, FT 6-6, 2 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +4 | points by period 0-2-6-2
  • - Jeremiah Fears (starter, 21 min): 8 pts, 3 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 2-10, 3PT 1-5, FT 3-4, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 3 fouls, +/- -12 | points by period 4-0-2-2
  • - Herbert Jones (bench, 17 min): 5 pts, 2 reb (1 off), 0 ast, FG 2-4, 3PT 1-1, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +5 | points by period 0-2-0-3
  • - Jordan Poole (bench, 15 min): 4 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 3 ast, FG 0-4, 3PT 0-3, FT 4-4, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 1 foul, +/- +12 | points by period 4-0-0-0
  • PLAYER FACTS:
  • - Zion Williamson scored 12 in the 2nd quarter.
  • - Dejounte Murray made 5 field goals in a row.
  • - Pascal Siakam scored 12 in the 4th quarter.
  • - Tyrese Haliburton scored 13 in the 4th quarter.
  • - Ivica Zubac picked up a 5th foul with 2:16 left in the 4th quarter.
  • - Tyrese Haliburton was called for 1 technical.
  • - Ben Sheppard was called for 1 technical.
  • SCORING PLAYS IN THE LAST 6:00 OF THE 4TH QUARTER (IND-NOP after the play):
  • - 5:37 IND +2 Andrew Nembhard (driving Layup) -> 106-104
  • - 5:06 IND +1 Andrew Nembhard (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 107-104
  • - 5:06 IND +1 Andrew Nembhard (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 108-104
  • - 4:48 NOP +1 Jeremiah Fears (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 108-105
  • - 4:48 NOP +1 Jeremiah Fears (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 108-106
  • - 4:14 NOP +1 Zion Williamson (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 108-107
  • - 4:14 NOP +1 Zion Williamson (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 108-108
  • - 4:00 IND +2 Pascal Siakam (8' driving Hook) -> 110-108
  • - 3:48 NOP +2 Dejounte Murray (driving floating bank Jump Shot) -> 110-110
  • - 3:48 NOP +1 Dejounte Murray (Free Throw 1 of 1) -> 110-111
  • - 3:35 IND +2 Pascal Siakam (14' pullup Jump Shot) -> 112-111
  • - 3:13 NOP +2 Trey Murphy III (14' driving floating Jump Shot) -> 112-113
  • - 2:50 IND +2 Pascal Siakam (9' floating Jump Shot) -> 114-113
  • - 2:32 IND +2 Pascal Siakam (running alley-oop Layup) -> 116-113
  • - 2:16 NOP +2 Zion Williamson (driving finger roll Layup) -> 116-115
  • - 2:16 NOP +1 Zion Williamson (Free Throw 1 of 1) -> 116-116
  • - 2:00 IND +2 Tyrese Haliburton (14' driving floating Jump Shot) -> 118-116
  • - 1:40 NOP +2 Yves Missi (tip DUNK) -> 118-118
  • - 1:23 IND +2 Tyrese Haliburton (11' driving floating Jump Shot) -> 120-118
  • - 1:23 IND +1 Tyrese Haliburton (Free Throw 1 of 1) -> 121-118
  • - 1:11 NOP +2 Yves Missi (DUNK) -> 121-120
  • - 0:45.7 IND +1 Quenton Jackson (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 122-120
  • - 0:45.7 IND +1 Quenton Jackson (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 123-120
  • FINAL POSSESSIONS: every shot, free throw, foul, turnover and violation in the last 1:00 of the 4th quarter (IND-NOP after the play):
  • - 0:52.1 IND Pascal Siakam missed (16' pullup Shot) -> 121-120
  • - 0:45.9 IND Ivica Zubac missed (Layup - blocked) -> 121-120
  • - 0:45.7 NOP Dejounte Murray, personal foul -> 121-120
  • - 0:45.7 IND Quenton Jackson made free throw 1 of 2 -> 122-120
  • - 0:45.7 IND Quenton Jackson made free throw 2 of 2 -> 123-120
  • - 0:33.8 NOP Zion Williamson missed (driving Layup) -> 123-120
  • - 0:14.2 IND Andrew Nembhard, traveling turnover -> 123-120
  • - 0:09.4 NOP Jeremiah Fears missed (27' pullup 3PT) -> 123-120
  • - 0:06.4 IND Ivica Zubac, lost ball turnover -> 123-120
  • - 0:01.6 NOP Zion Williamson missed (26' pullup 3PT) -> 123-120
  • - 0:01.4 NOP Pelicans foul -> 123-120
  • - 0:01.4 IND Ivica Zubac missed free throw 1 of 2 -> 123-120
  • - 0:01.4 IND Ivica Zubac missed free throw 2 of 2 -> 123-120
  • - 0:00 NOP Pelicans heave -> 123-120
  • SEASON LINES THE GAME'S PREVIEW STATED (before this game):
  • - Jay Huff averaged 9.5 points in 82 games last season.
  • - Quenton Jackson averaged 9.1 points in 49 games last season.
  • - Jeremiah Fears averaged 14.3 points in 82 games last season.
  • - Derik Queen averaged 11.7 points in 81 games last season.
  • ANGLE: Thriller. VOICE: Late Show.
PREVIEW

Before tip

As it stood at tip · open to read

The Pacers play at the Pelicans on Wednesday, Oct 21, at 8:00 PM EDT. Last season, the Pacers went 19-63. The Pacers' confirmed starters are Ivica Zubac, Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Nembhard (NBA official lineups, 3:40 PM EDT). On the other side, last season, the Pelicans went 26-56. The Pelicans' confirmed starters are Yves Missi, Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray (NBA official lineups, 3:40 PM EDT). The Pacers won the last meeting with the Pelicans 127-119 on Jan 16, at home. Since 2019-20, the Pelicans are 8-7 against the Pacers in the regular season.

Written by AI (Claude Haiku 5.5) from the facts below; every name and number is filled in from the data, not by the model.

Facts as of 10:52 AM EDT

  • The Pacers play at the Pelicans on Wednesday, Oct 21, at 8:00 PM EDT.
  • Last season, the Pacers went 19-63.
  • Jay Huff averaged 9.5 points in 82 games last season.
  • Quenton Jackson averaged 9.1 points in 49 games last season.
  • The Pacers' confirmed starters are Ivica Zubac, Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Nembhard (NBA official lineups, 3:40 PM EDT).
  • Last season, the Pelicans went 26-56.
  • Jeremiah Fears averaged 14.3 points in 82 games last season.
  • Derik Queen averaged 11.7 points in 81 games last season.
  • The Pelicans' confirmed starters are Yves Missi, Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Fears, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray (NBA official lineups, 3:40 PM EDT).
  • The Pacers won the last meeting with the Pelicans 127-119 on Jan 16, at home.
  • Since 2019-20, the Pelicans are 8-7 against the Pacers in the regular season.

Starting fives

Confirmed by the league’s official lineups. Until then: in the NBA, the five those lineups list as expected; otherwise, the five each team started in its last game.

Indiana Pacers

Confirmed · 3:40 PM EDT

NBA Official Lineups API

  1. TH
    Tyrese HaliburtonPG · No averages held
  2. AN
    Andrew NembhardSG · 16.9 PTS · 2.8 REB · 7.7 AST · 57 GP · 2025-26 regular season
  3. KO
    Kelly Oubre Jr.SF · 14.1 PTS · 5.0 REB · 1.6 AST · 50 GP · 2025-26 regular season
  4. PS
    Pascal SiakamPF · 24.0 PTS · 6.6 REB · 3.8 AST · 62 GP · 2025-26 regular season
  5. IZ
    Ivica ZubacC · 14.1 PTS · 10.6 REB · 2.2 AST · 48 GP · 2025-26 regular season

New Orleans Pelicans

Confirmed · 3:40 PM EDT

NBA Official Lineups API

  1. JF
    Jeremiah FearsPG · 14.3 PTS · 3.7 REB · 3.4 AST · 82 GP · 2025-26 regular season
  2. DM
    Dejounte MurraySG · 16.7 PTS · 5.4 REB · 6.4 AST · 14 GP · 2025-26 regular season
  3. TM
    Trey Murphy IIISF · 21.5 PTS · 5.7 REB · 3.8 AST · 66 GP · 2025-26 regular season
  4. ZW
    Zion WilliamsonPF · 21.0 PTS · 5.7 REB · 3.2 AST · 62 GP · 2025-26 regular season
  5. YM
    Yves MissiC · 5.7 PTS · 5.8 REB · 1.3 AST · 66 GP · 2025-26 regular season

Injury report

The league’s official report: each listed player’s status and reason as reported, in report order.

Indiana Pacers

Checked 7:47 PM EDT

Not available from the sourceThe latest report does not cover this game.

New Orleans Pelicans

Checked 7:47 PM EDT

Not available from the sourceThe latest report does not cover this game.

SELECTED PLAYER
PS

Pascal Siakam

IND · Starter · 35:17 MIN

BOX SCORE

Player contributions

Choose any row to inspect

Indiana Pacers at New Orleans Pelicans: one row per player, by points, highest first. Team totals add up the player rows.
PLAYERMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOVPFFG3PTFT+/-
35:173081102313–231–33–8+6
34:21233723429–182–53–3-6
33:312321210308–152–65–5-4
32:08223330337–162–46–6+1
24:42203120037–124–92–3+3
33:40182910246–100–36–7+9
33:381615002157–120–02–4+11
23:37135000214–92–43–3+1
29:551314523135–60–03–4-7
17:52113210033–70–35–6-5
31:33114100024–112–51–1-8
18:051010120132–40–06–6+4
20:5683100132–101–53–4-12
15:3164130002–30–02–20
16:5452010132–41–10–0+5
14:3942300110–40–34–4+12
27:4442311132–50–30–0+8
12:1031000041–31–20–0-2
18:3136201421–61–30–0-5
5:1400000020–10–10–0-11
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
DNP———————————
IND totalsSum of 10 player lines123432994132647–909–3020–29
NOP totalsSum of 10 player lines1204923116142438–8910–3034–37

Team totals add up the player rows above. DNP: did not play. —: not recorded. Quarter scores are not shown.

SURPRISES

Against their usual

Regular season · Game Score against each player's usual line

INDIndiana Pacers

4 of 5 scored players stayed within the usual range.

NOPNew Orleans Pelicans

Every scored player stayed within the usual range.