Pacers Edge Pelicans 123-120 in Season Opener

The Indiana Pacers opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a narrow 123-120 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night. A stellar fourth-quarter surge powered the visiting squad to a come-from-behind win, spoiling a strong performance from New Orleans guard Dejounte Murray.

Dejounte Murray led the Pelicans with 23 points, seven assists, three rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Zion Williamson contributed 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals for New Orleans, while Yves Missi added 13 points and 14 rebounds. Despite holding leads through portions of the game, the Pelicans were outscored 37-28 in the final period.

The night belonged largely to Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton, who made his long-awaited return after missing the entire previous season due to a torn right Achilles tendon suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Haliburton finished with 23 points and 12 assists, scoring 13 of his points in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory. An emotional Haliburton spoke about the milestone after the final buzzer, stating, "It means a lot."

Haliburton received strong support from teammate Pascal Siakam, who poured in 30 points, including 10 straight points for Indiana during a crucial stretch in the fourth quarter. Obi Toppin contributed 20 points, scoring 18 of them in the first half, while Andrew Nembhard finished with 18 points and nine assists. Ivica Zubac also anchored the frontcourt with 16 points and robust rebounding numbers.

The physical contest featured intense moments down the stretch. Haliburton picked up a technical foul following a verbal altercation with New Orleans bench player Derik Queen while both players walked toward their respective benches during the fourth quarter. Officials and teammates quickly separated the two players before the situation escalated.

For New Orleans, Queen delivered an efficient performance off the bench with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals in 18 minutes of action. The Pelicans held a strong rebounding edge early on, but Indiana's late-game offensive execution ultimately shifted the momentum.

With the opening-night victory secured, the Indiana Pacers look ahead to their next matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans will seek to rebound when they face the Utah Jazz on the same night.