Indiana Pacers vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks and Predictions for Wednesday, October 21, 2026
For Indiana, having Tyrese Haliburton back on the court is the biggest story heading into Wednesday's opener against New Orleans. The two teams meet at Smoothie King Center, with tipoff scheduled for 8:00 pm ET. The Pacers are looking to put a 19-63 season behind them after finishing 14th in the East and missing the playoffs. New Orleans wasn't much better, going 26-56 and finishing 11th in the West without reaching the postseason. The Pelicans went 3-1 in the preseason, while Indiana finished 1-3. Find your next winner with our free NBA picks.
Indiana Pacers Welcome Back Tyrese Haliburton
It's been a long road back for Haliburton, who tore his Achilles during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The injury kept him out all of last season, and Indiana never really recovered. The Pacers struggled to find the same scoring touch that had taken them to the Finals, finishing 28th in the league on offense. They were still moving the ball and getting open shots, but too many of those chances went to waste. With Haliburton healthy again, Indiana has its main playmaker running the offense.
The Pacers also have plenty of familiar faces around Haliburton. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell are all back, along with Ivica Zubac, who played just five games after arriving in a trade last season. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. give Indiana some additional depth. Jarace Walker made the most of his extra playing time last year, putting up 11.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He played even better down the stretch, averaging 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists over his final 22 games.
Injuries: Johnny Furphy is out with a knee injury. Jarace Walker and T.J. McConnell are game-time decisions, along with Aaron Nesmith, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
New Orleans Pelicans Begin a New Chapter
New Orleans has plenty to prove after finishing 26-56 and missing the playoffs. The Pelicans placed 11th in the West and have handed the team to new coach Jamahl Mosley. His work developing young players in Orlando makes him a good fit for a roster built around established names and recent draft picks. The Pelicans led the league last season with 58% of their shots coming in the paint, but converted only 55.4% of those chances. Getting better looks and making more of them will be a priority.
Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy remain central to the offense, while Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are expected to take on more responsibility after promising rookie seasons. New arrival Bennedict Mathurin gets an immediate reunion with his former Pacers teammates. AJ Johnson and Trendon Watford are among the other additions. Herbert Jones will be important on defense, although he has shot just 31% from three over the past two seasons. Dejounte Murray is another established option, but his toe injury leaves his availability uncertain for the opener.
Injuries: Dejounte Murray is a game-time decision with a toe injury.
Key To The Game
Indiana gets its main playmaker back, while New Orleans has a new coach and several young players taking on larger roles. Haliburton's ability to create open shots will be important. The Pelicans need Williamson to pressure the defense inside without letting the Pacers dictate the pace.
Indiana Pacers vs New Orleans Pelicans Pick
- Indiana Pacers -3.5
Indiana's outlook changes with Haliburton back on the court. The Pacers struggled without him, but Siakam, Nembhard and Zubac give him several options when the offense gets moving. New Orleans has Williamson and Murphy, yet last season's poor shooting in the paint remains a concern. Mosley may need time to get the Pelicans settled into a new system. Indiana looks capable of covering the 3.5-point spread on Wednesday night.
Indiana Pacers vs New Orleans Pelicans Over/Under Pick
- Under 242.5
This total asks both teams to score plenty in their first regular-season game. Haliburton should give Indiana more chances to attack, but he's returning after missing an entire season. New Orleans has talented scorers in Williamson, Murphy and Mathurin, although the Pelicans struggled to finish around the basket last year. With both teams adjusting to changes, 242.5 points looks high. The under is the better choice for this game.