Nets Blown Out by Pacers, Fall to 0-3 to Start Season

The Brooklyn Nets suffered another disappointing loss Sunday night, falling to the Indiana Pacers 136-109 at Barclays Center to drop to 0-3 to begin the 2026-27 season. Playing for the second consecutive night, Brooklyn struggled to get much going offensively early and couldn't get enough stops defensively, allowing Indiana to shoot 57.6% from the field and 48.8% from three-point range.

The Nets entered the game looking to bounce back from Saturday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but their defensive problems continued against a Pacers team that took advantage of Brooklyn's mistakes throughout the night. Indiana scored 78 points in the second and third quarters combined, turning a competitive first half into a comfortable victory.

Brooklyn actually held a 26-24 lead after the first quarter, but the opening period was far from pretty. Both teams struggled with turnovers early, combining for 15 in the quarter. The Nets committed seven, while Indiana gave the ball away eight times. Day'Ron Sharpe provided an early spark with a three-pointer and an and-one finish, while Keon Ellis created opportunities with a pair of steals that led to fast-break layups.

The Nets also received a boost from their bench, with Mo Wagner knocking down a three-pointer late in the first quarter to help Brooklyn close the period on an 8-0 run. Wagner continued to make an impact in the second, scoring inside and from beyond the arc as the Nets briefly built a six-point advantage.

However, Indiana gradually took control. Pascal Siakam led the way with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists, consistently finding openings against Brooklyn's defense. Tyrese Haliburton added 24 points and 10 assists, while Obi Toppin contributed 16 points, including a pair of three-pointers during a crucial second-quarter stretch.

The Pacers closed the first half on a 16-5 run, taking a 65-56 lead into the break. Indiana shot 58.5% from the field in the first half, making life difficult for a Brooklyn defense that had generated 11 steals but still couldn't consistently get stops.

Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle were particularly quiet before halftime. Porter had just three points on 1-of-8 shooting, while Randle had eight points on 1-of-6 shooting. Brooklyn needed more production from its two key offensive options, especially with Indiana finding quality looks so frequently.

Porter showed some signs of life after halftime, finishing plays around the basket, but the Nets had no answer for the Pacers' offense. Indiana opened the third quarter with a series of easy baskets, and Haliburton continued to pick apart the defense. Toppin then took over late in the period, scoring on consecutive three-pointers before converting a steal into a dunk during a 12-0 Indiana run.

By the end of the third quarter, the Pacers had stretched their lead to 102-80. Brooklyn had surrendered 78 points across the second and third periods, and the game was effectively out of reach heading into the fourth.

There were a few positives for the Nets individually. Wagner finished with 13 points and gave Brooklyn a much-needed offensive boost off the bench, while Josh Minott recorded 15 points and eight rebounds. Nolan Traoré led Brooklyn with 17 points and five assists, making his performance one of the few positives for the Nets on a difficult night.

The fourth quarter also gave Brooklyn a chance to get a look at several young players. Danny Wolf, Drake Powell and Ben Saraf all saw their first action of the season, while Joshua Jefferson checked in to make his NBA debut. With the game already out of reach, the Nets were able to get some of their younger players on the floor and give them valuable experience.

Still, those individual performances did little to change the overall picture. The Nets allowed Indiana to reach 136 points, struggled to contain the Pacers in transition and repeatedly gave up open looks. Although playing on the second night of a back-to-back against a quality opponent was certainly a challenge, the defensive effort was disappointing.

Brooklyn now sits at 0-3, with plenty of work to do on both ends of the floor. The Nets will look to regroup after consecutive losses as they travel to face the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.