How is this game not on national television? Why do networks hate fun?
It might not be the marquee event on this evening’s 11-game NBA slate, but there’s a certain morbid curiosity that I get from a tilt between two teams this bad. While injuries have left the Pacers a shell of the squad that is fewer than six months removed from winning an Eastern Conference championship, the Nets are this terrible on purpose, as the team is in the midst of yet another rebuild.
Can Brooklyn get its first win of the season on Wednesday? Let’s preview tonight’s matchup with the help of some of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nets vs. Pacers prediction, preview
Let’s start with Indiana. Not to go all Robin Williams on this franchise, but it truly isn’t their fault. We all remember that Tyrese Hailburton is out for the season after snapping his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. However, since then, the Pacers have lost Benedict Mathurin (toe), Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), Obi Toppin (toe) and T.J. McConnell (hamstring) to long-term ailments, essentially leaving what was one of the deepest rosters in the league to die.
That said, it’s not as if Indiana is rolling over without a fight. Four of the Pacers’ six losses in 2025-26 have been by six points or fewer, a grouping of competitive contests that includes Monday’s defeat against the Bucks, when Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a buzzer beater as time expired in the fourth quarter. Indiana does come into this evening’s action ranking 27th in the NBA in net rating (-8.1), yet it is nowhere near the level of the Wizards, the Pelicans or the Nets, who have all been outscored by over 13 points per 100 possessions in the opening weeks of the regular season. Pacers fans can thank Pascal Siakam for that. Formerly a No. 1 option on some pretty good Raptors teams, Siakam is having the best start to a campaign in his career, producing 26.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per contest. When Siakam’s been off the floor through Indiana’s first seven games, the Pacers have just a 100.0 offensive rating and a -17.0 net rating. Woof.
Unlike Indiana, Brooklyn doesn’t have a Pascal Siakam or many close losses. No, the Nets have simply been bludgeoned every single time they’ve taken the court in 2025-26, with the league’s worst defense to blame for their misery. It’s actually wild how poorly Brooklyn has defended to start the season. The Nets are one of two teams allowing over 120 opponent points per 100 possessions, yet the team’s 128.5 defensive rating is a full six points worse than the lowly Pelicans. Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton have been fine, while Cam Thomas is scoring a very inefficient 24.4 points per game, but that’s it. That’s all that’s notable about this roster. This is an organization that’s thinking more about ping pong balls than basketballs at the moment.
Nets vs. Pacers pick, best bet
Best Bet: Jarace Walker 15+ Points (-122)
Walker led the Pacers in minutes against the Bucks (38.2) and that translated into 18 points. If he sees a similar role on Wednesday in a matchup with the worst defense in the NBA, he could set a new career-high. A 20+ points prop at +270 doesn’t look too bad for those a little more brave.
