Nets' defensive breakdowns turn close game into 136-109 rout by Pacers

C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News on Oct 25, 2026

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NEW YORK — Tyrese Haliburton had enough room to entertain himself.

After stealing a Julius Randle pass in the third quarter Sunday night, the Indiana Pacers guard bounced the basketball off the Barclays Center hardwood, gathered it and threw down a dunk. The Brooklyn Nets had already allowed plenty of easy baskets. This one came with a flourish.

Brooklyn entered the season knowing it would lose games because of its youth and limitations. Being beaten down the floor, late to shooters and repeatedly exposed around the rim is another matter.

The Pacers handed the Nets a 136-109 loss, dropping them to 0-3 and turning what had been a competitive first half into an ugly reminder of how much work remains defensively. Indiana shot 57.6% from the field, hit 21 of 43 3-pointers and scored 56 points in the paint.

Brooklyn led 51-49 after a Moritz Wagner 3-pointer with 2:45 left before halftime. Indiana closed the quarter on a 16-5 run, then poured in 37 points in the third. By the time the Pacers took a 100-74 lead late in the period, they had outscored the Nets 51-23 since that brief Brooklyn advantage.

Keon Ellis recorded four first-half steals, matching his career high for a half, and Brooklyn forced 12 Indiana turnovers before intermission. Yet the Pacers still scored 65 points on 58.5% shooting. The steals disguised little. When Indiana kept the ball, Brooklyn struggled to keep it out of the lane or force difficult shots.

Before tipoff, head coach Jordi Fernández stressed that the Pacers’ ball movement would require “three-plus efforts every time.” He described the Nets’ issues with defensive positioning and rim protection as “easily correctable,” and urged players not to let one mistake become another.

But the missed assignments kept coming. Indiana finished with 34 assists, 25 fast-break points and far too many clean looks. Haliburton had 24 points and 10 assists, Pascal Siakam added 21 points and Obi Toppin hit four 3-pointers off the bench.

Wagner scored 13 points, while Day’Ron Sharpe added 11. That wasn’t enough to hold back another surge. Indiana ripped off 12 consecutive points in the third quarter, stretching its lead from 14 to 26 and sending Fernández deeper into his bench.

Brooklyn’s offense couldn’t cover for the breakdowns. The Nets shot 40.7% overall and missed 11 free throws.

Nolan Traoré was a bright spot with 17 points and five assists. His speed repeatedly got him into the lane, and he looked more comfortable stopping on two feet. He also made two of three 3-pointers, an encouraging sign for his developing jumper.

The Nets return Tuesday against the Celtics at TD Garden.

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