Cooper Flagg is cleared to play for the Dallas Mavericks against the Miami Heat on Oct. 26, just three days after a mild left‑shoulder sprain in Indiana. Coach Dusty May says Flagg’s status is a game‑time decision, but he expects him to suit up after a solid 14‑point debut versus the Pacers. The Mavericks also welcome back Kyrie Irving, while Naji Marshall sits out with illness and several other players remain sidelined. Miami, 0‑3 this week, features new star Giannis Antetokounmpo (28.3 ppg). The tip‑off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at Kaseya Center.
The Dallas Mavericks (1-2) travel to Miami to face the winless Heat (0-3) on NBA TV at 6:30 p.m. CST. Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving returns after ACL recovery, while rookie Cooper Flagg is listed as probable despite a shoulder injury. Dallas also loses Santi Aldama (knee surgery) and Dereck Lively, while Miami reports no absences. The Heat are desperate for their first victory, and the Mavericks aim to build on a recent win over the Pacers. Key storylines include Irving’s comeback and the evolving injury list ahead of a potentially entertaining matchup.
Daniel Jones to start over Richardson – again! Josh Hoover “to be better” Saturday! Pacers tonight!
DirecTV and DAZN seal a multiyear deal to carry local games for the Cavs, Pacers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Spurs, extending access to DirecTV streaming, satellite and U‑verse customers in each team’s home market. While the agreement adds a new option for existing DirecTV subscribers, fans on Spectrum, YouTube TV or other services still face extra subscriptions, sparking backlash over the DAZN partnership. Questions linger about package requirements, refunds for current DAZN users, and whether the added coverage truly eases the Cavs’ TV woes. The article weighs the modest progress against ongoing fan frustration.
All five NBA teams that signed exclusive local broadcast deals with DAZN—Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs—have now secured simulcast agreements with DirecTV. Starting this week, DirecTV Choice or higher subscribers can watch the teams' games, effectively turning the streaming‑only rights into a direct‑to‑distributor model. The move hints at a strategic shift after early-season backlash over limited access, though it remains unclear if additional cable or satellite deals will follow or if teams will adjust their fees.
LaMelo Ball sparks the Minnesota Timberwolves with 15 points, eight assists and a head‑up approach that helped the team start 3‑0, while Terrence Shannon Jr. praised his slick three‑point move. In Indiana, the Pacers lose center Ivica Zubac to a sprained ankle (same as last season) but Jay Huff steps up with 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Meanwhile, Lakers rookie Walker Kessler admits his emotions got the best of him in a return against Utah, posting two points and seven rebounds as Los Angeles improves to 3‑0 behind Luka Dončić’s 52‑point outburst. The roundup highlights key performances, injuries and early season momentum across the NBA.
Cooper Flagg is upgraded to probable for the Mavericks' Monday game against the Miami Heat after completing a shootaround, despite a mild left shoulder sprain that sidelined him on Friday. The 19‑year‑old, 2025 No. 1 pick, left the Indiana Pacers game with 14 points and missed the Spurs loss before an MRI confirmed the sprain. He scored 32 points in the season opener versus Houston. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving returns after a knee issue, while Naji Marshall (illness) and Caleb Martin (thumb sprain) remain out, and several players continue to sit with injuries. Tip‑off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at Kaseya Center.
Six months after a heated exchange made Michael and Grace go viral at a Pacers‑Nets game, the couple returns to Barclays Center for another Indiana Pacers showdown. This time they share a playful, affectionate moment—Grace pretends to nap, Michael wakes her, and she plants a kiss on his cheek. The Pacers dominate, beating the Nets by 27 points behind Tyrese Haliburton’s 24 points. Their earlier viral clip from April 2026, which sparked a cameo on Inside the NBA, resurfaces as fans wonder if the duo will become regular Pacers guests.
Pacers center Ivica Zubac sprains his left ankle in the first quarter of the 112-106 win over Brooklyn, exiting on crutches and likely missing Monday’s game in Milwaukee. The injury, to the same ankle that sidelined him last season, shows no fracture on X‑rays but carries swelling, making his status day‑to‑day. Backup Jay Huff steps up with 14 points, 3 assists, and 3 blocks, while Larry Nance Jr. adds 6 points, 6 rebounds. Kelly Oubre Jr. rebounds with 14 points after a slow start, and star guard Tyrese Haliburton confirms he’ll play against the Bucks, marking his first back‑to‑back appearance since his Achilles tear. Meanwhile, wing Johnny Furphy remains on track in ACL rehab, but the Pacers also list T.J. McConnell and Ben Sheppard as out.
The Brooklyn Nets suffered a humiliating 136-109 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 26, 2026, dropping to 0-3 on the season. After a promising 26-24 first quarter, the Nets allowed Indiana to pour in 112 points over the final three periods, shooting 67% on twos and 49% from three. Coach Jordi Fernandez called the performance “unacceptable,” taking responsibility for breakdowns in spacing, pick‑and‑roll communication, and overall effort. The loss highlighted the Nets’ defensive woes: they now rank second‑worst in effective field‑goal percentage allowed and surrender the most wide‑open threes (23.3 per game) in the NBA. Key players like Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., and the center duo Day’Ron Sharpe/Moe Wagner struggled to match up, underscoring the need for a defensive overhaul.
Rick Carlisle likens his reaction to Tyrese Haliburton’s self‑lob dunk to a John Wick comeback after the Pacers’ 136‑109 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 26, 2026. Haliburton tossed the ball off the floor and finished a two‑handed dunk – his first off‑the‑feet slam in the NBA – finishing with 24 points and 10 assists. The play, Carlisle says, proves the star guard is fully back from the Achilles injury that sidelined him all of last season, boosting Indiana’s momentum as they improve to 2‑1.
Cooper Flagg joins the Dallas Mavericks’ shootaround at Miami’s Kaseya Center despite being listed as questionable with a mild left shoulder sprain. The 19‑year‑old, 2025 No. 1 draft pick exited the Mavericks’ 121‑105 win over Indiana after a flagrant foul and missed the 122‑106 loss to San Antonio while an MRI confirmed the sprain. Coach Dusty May leaves his return timeline open. Flagg, who tallied 32 points in the season opener, was replaced by Zachary Risacher (11 points) on Saturday. Kyrie Irving returns, while Naji Marshall and several others remain sidelined. Tip‑off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
The Dallas Mavericks have upgraded forward Cooper Flagg to probable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat after he participated in the morning shootaround. Flagg suffered a mild left‑shoulder sprain in a fall during a breakaway layup against the Indiana Pacers, where he left after 14 points, five rebounds and six assists. The 19‑year‑old missed the loss to the San Antonio Spurs, but the team expects him back as Kyrie Irving returns and Zaccharie Risacher may start. The Mavericks also list Santi Aldama, Tarik Beberovic, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall and Caleb Martin as out.
The Pacers’ injury list swells after center Ivica Zubac sprains his left ankle in a 108‑102 win over the Nets, exiting in the second half. The ACL‑torn Johnny Furphy, meniscus‑injured Ben Sheppard, hamstring‑strained T.J. McConnell, and forward Ben Sheppard also remain sidelined, leaving the team with just 14 standard contracts—insufficient for a hardship addition. Coach Rick Calrisle says Zubac’s X‑rays are clean but a return is unlikely tomorrow, making his status day‑to‑day. With no hardship option and key players out, Indiana faces a steep roster challenge early in the 2026‑27 season.
If there's a more good natured technical foul this season, it should be delightful.
The Mavericks open the 2026‑27 season 1‑2, dropping to Houston (128‑110) and San Antonio (122‑106) but beating Indiana (121‑105). Rookie Cooper Flagg shines with 23 points per game before a shoulder injury sidelines him for the Spurs game. Despite ‘quarter‑by‑quarter’ inconsistencies, Dallas ranks in the league’s top half for offensive rating (112.0) and shows flashes of strong defense. Coach Dusty May’s rotations are still settling, while bench contributors like Marcus Sasser and Sergio de Larrea impress. With upcoming games against Miami, OKC and a rematch with Houston, the Mavs have playoff potential if they find consistency.
The Milwaukee Bucks, sitting 0-3 after losses to Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia, host the 2-1 Indiana Pacers at Fiserv Forum on Oct. 26. The Bucks must address a league‑worst 129 PPG defense, while Indiana returns a healthy Tyrese Haliburton (21.7 PPG, 9.7 APG) and hot Pascal Siakam (24.7 PPG, 6 RPG). Pacers’ starting center Ivica Zubac is doubtful after an ankle sprain, giving Jay Huff a chance to start. Key storylines include the Hali‑Siakam partnership and the Bucks’ need a win to start a three‑game home stretch. Game kicks off 7 p.m. CDT, streaming on MY24.
All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton says the Indiana Pacers are being undervalued after sitting out the 2025‑26 season, but insists the team remains laser‑focused on its own championship aspirations. Haliburton emphasizes that external opinions don’t matter – “We’re Indiana, we’re the Pacers… we don’t care” – highlighting confidence in the roster’s goal to contend for the title.
Tyrese Haliburton posts a 24‑point, 10‑assist double‑double as the Indiana Pacers crush the Brooklyn Nets 136‑109 on Oct. 26, 2026. Indiana shoots an efficient 58% (49‑of‑85) and gets contributions from Pascal Siakam (21) and bench scorer Obi Toppin (16). The dominant win highlights the Pacers’ offensive firepower and sets a strong tone early in the season.
Tyrese Haliburton returns to the Indiana Pacers after missing last season, helping them go 2-1 with a game‑high 24 points in a win over the Brooklyn Nets. He dazzles with a self‑lob dunk while the team dons retro ABA jerseys, jokingly likening the moment to Dr. J before quickly walking back the comment. Haliburton finished 8‑of‑13 shooting, added four rebounds, 10 assists and two steals, and is averaging 20.5 points and 9.5 assists over the Pacers' first two games.
After Jalen Williams was stretchered off with a lower‑leg injury in the Thunder's 108-101 win over the Clippers, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton posted a supportive "JDub" message on X. The injury occurred with just over a minute left when Williams was sandwiched by Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., leading to a Flagrant‑1 foul on Dunn. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and teammate Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander expressed concern, while no diagnosis has been released. Haliburton’s empathy is underscored by his own Achilles tear in the 2025 Finals against Oklahoma City, which sidelined him for the 2025‑26 season. The Thunder now await updates on Williams’ status.
The Brooklyn Nets fall 136-109 to the Indiana Pacers, extending their winless start. Despite early steals and a solid start from bigs Mo Wagner (13 points) and Day’Ron Sharpe, the Nets couldn’t contain Indiana’s shooting surge, especially a second‑half barrage of threes that built a 26‑point lead. Nolan Traoré leads Brooklyn with 17 points and five assists, but the team shoots just 8‑23 overall in the third quarter and commits five turnovers. Coach Fernandez calls the three‑quarter performance “unacceptable,” as the Nets search for defensive identity and offensive consistency.
In their first ABA Classic uniform, the Indiana Pacers bounced back from a 37‑point loss to crush the Brooklyn Nets 115‑92 on Oct. 26, 2026. After a turnover‑laden first quarter and an early ankle sprain that sidelined Ivica Zubbác, the Pacers leaned on big forwards Pascal Siakam (15 points), Obi Toppin (8 points, 2 threes) and a surprise performance from reserve Jay Huff (14 points, 3 blocks, 3 assists). Haliburton’s starting lineup clicked, the team shot 45% from three in the fourth, and they built a 65‑56 halftime lead. The win showcases improved flow, reduced turnovers, and depth beyond Zubbác’s injury.
Former 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a complete liability to begin his Pacers stint.
Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez explains why rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. and fellow lottery pick Egor Demin have seen limited shared minutes. Brown, the No. 6 pick, sits out Sunday’s games against Indiana with a preventative back‑injury designation and remains on a minutes restriction after missing preseason time with an ankle issue. The duo only played together for four minutes in the fourth quarter of a 125‑121 loss to Cleveland, hitting six threes and sparking a comeback. Fernandez says the rotation puzzle stems from bench roles, minute limits and preserving player rhythm, not a lack of desire to pair them, and he’ll continue experimenting with lineups.