The Indiana Pacers beat the Brooklyn Nets 136-109 at Barclays Center on Sunday 25 October 2026, recording a comprehensive win in the early weeks of the NBA season, according to the NBA scoreboard and Field Level Media’s roundup. The 27-point margin reflected a game in which Indiana controlled proceedings from start to finish. The Pacers’ win was part of a busy Sunday in the NBA, which also saw Detroit beat Philadelphia, the Lakers beat Utah behind Luka Doncic’s 52 points, and Oklahoma City beat the Clippers. In that company, Indiana’s rout of Brooklyn may not have grabbed the headlines — but it was one of the most complete performances of the day.
Pacers in control
Scoring 136 points on the road is never easy, and Indiana’s ability to do so while holding Brooklyn to 109 points showed a team playing with confidence and cohesion. The Pacers have built their identity on pace, ball movement and depth, and on Sunday all three were on display in Brooklyn. For the Nets, the defeat is a reminder of how far they still have to go. Brooklyn have shown flashes this season, but against a well-drilled Indiana team they were outplayed in almost every area. A 27-point home defeat will hurt, and the Nets’ coaching staff will need to find answers quickly if they are to avoid a long season.
Early-season picture
The Eastern Conference is still taking shape, but Indiana’s win keeps them firmly in the early-season conversation. The Pacers have been one of the East’s most consistent teams in recent seasons, and a road rout of this nature suggests they intend to stay there. For Brooklyn, the challenge is different: turning potential into results, and turning home games into wins. Sunday’s result will not define either team’s season, but it is a useful marker. Indiana look like a team that knows who they are and how they want to play. Brooklyn, for now, look like a team still searching for that identity — and in the NBA, that search rarely gets easier as the season goes on.
