Five things learned as Indiana Pacers drop preseason game vs Atlanta Hawks
The Pacers were back in Gaibridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night.
INDIANAPOLIS – Saturday night, the Indiana Pacers were the home team for the second time during 2026 preseason play. But unlike their trip to Ames, this was a real home game – Gainbridge Fieldhouse hosted the Pacers for the first time since April 12.
The Atlanta Hawks were in town and ready to play. Tyrese Haliburton, however, was not. He suffered a mild right ankle tweak in Ames and was out for this game, head coach Rick Carlisle explained pregame. Haliburton got an MRI that came with good results. He was limited in practice on Friday and could be a full go by Monday.
But for this game, he was out. Kelly Oubre started in his place, and the entire rotation shifted with Haliburton and T.J. McConnell both sidelined. The Pacers were light on point guards. What is this, 2025-26?
Some things that were learned in Pacers-Hawks:
Tony East
Balanced attack without Tyrese Haliburton
Much like last season, the Pacers relied on balance and matchup advantages to guide their offense when their core players were on the court.
10 of the Pacers first 12 made baskets were assisted. Nobody made more than two of those 12 shots, and nine different players were responsible for at least one of them.
Kelly Oubre and Ivica Zubac – two of the newer Pacers who are figuring out the system and where their shots will come from – attempted more field goals than anyone in the first 17 minutes of action. That's a good thing in the preseason, as was the Pacers style in these moments without Haliburton. They were still moving the ball well and up 46-45 about halfway through the second quarter thanks to a balanced offense.
As the game progressed, this trend continued. The best stat to show it? As the Pacers starters left the game for the last time in the third quarter, Aaron Nesmith was the team's leader in assists. And the game finished with that still the case – Nesmith had five in total (tied with Braden Smith).
Larry Nance is healthy again
Larry Nance debuted in this game after recovering from a hamstring injury that held him out of Wednesday's battle with Minnesota.
The veteran big man dealt with several injuries during the last two seasons, making it tricky to know his true level as a player at this stage of his career. He certainly doesn't have the athleticism that he used to, but Nance had a chance to show what he can still contribute.
On his first defensive possession, Nance skied in for a rebound in traffic, then ran down the floor and slid across the lane for a basket on the other end. His mobility and awareness in an up-tempo system looked fine in his opening minutes.
Nance continued to work with the second unit in the second half, which is worth keeping an eye on. He drilled a corner three in the third quarter and was generally active tossing, three assists.
Nance will have to work hard to be healthy all year. But his processing of the Pacers system was solid in his first preseason appearance.
Nance's final stat line: Six points and five rebounds.
Obi Toppin dunked everything
Here is Obi Toppin's shot chart after his seventh shot attempt:
Four dunks, three missed non-dunks. That works.
Toppin's mobility has been impressive through the first two weeks of training camp and preseason action. He's been a tricky matchup for opposing defenses and keeps coasting to the rim. His chemistry with Haliburton shined on Wednesday.
Against Atlanta, he lived at the rim even without Haliburton. He used tricky moves and out-of-this-world athleticism to get there and throw the ball through the net. Toppin made a corner three in the second half, finishing with five made shots. Four of them were dunks.
Toppin's final stat line: 11 points and three rebounds.
Some defensive challenges
The Pacers and Hawks played their rotation players for about three quarters of this game. And through three quarters, Atlanta scored 96 points – an average of 32 per quarter.
The Pacers defense was a bit off in this game. Some of that was the constant fouling, the Pacers committed 21 in the first three quarters. Some of the defensive issues came from late rotations, a product of chemistry being built and lineups changing.
Another issue contributing to the raw number of points for Atlanta: The possession battle. The Pacers had just five steals and still didn't pull in an offensive rebound through three quarters. The Hawks, as a result, took 10 more shots and equaled the Pacers in free throw attempts.
That's a big gap to overcome, and it allowed the Hawks to hold a lead for much of the game.
Ivica Zubac used his size advantage
After battling with Rudy Gobert in the Pacers preseason opener, Zubac had a much more favorable matchup in the Pacers second preseason game. Onyeka Okongwu is talented, but he's shorter and thinner than Zubac.
The Pacers took advantage, giving Zubac chances in the post and using his screening often. The big man was efficient, finishing the game 4/6 from the field thanks to his touch.
This is repeatable against other small opponents. Zubac's final stat line: 11 points, five rebounds, two assists.
The Pacers fell to the Hawks 119-117, dropping to 1-1 in preseason play.
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