You’re staring at the calendar, maybe checking your FanDuel app or just planning a night out in downtown Indy. You want to know exactly when do the pacers play next because, let’s be honest, following this team lately has been a bit of a roller coaster. If you’re looking at tonight, Friday, January 16, 2026, you’ve got plans.
The Indiana Pacers are hosting the New Orleans Pelicans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET.
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It’s a weird matchup. Both teams have been scraping the bottom of the standings a bit more than fans hoped for this season. Indiana enters the night at 9-32 (some books have them at 8-31 depending on when they updated), and the Pelicans aren't much better at 10-33. But hey, a game is a game, and the Pacers are actually 2.5-point favorites tonight.
The Immediate Road Ahead
After they wrap up with the Pelicans, the team doesn't get much of a breather. They’re hopping on a plane immediately for a back-to-back. Tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, they’ll be in Detroit to face the Pistons at 7:30 PM ET.
If you're tracking the full week, it looks like a grueling stretch of travel. Following the Detroit game, they head to Philadelphia on Monday, January 19, for a 7:00 PM tilt against the 76ers. Then it's off to Boston on Wednesday the 21st. Basically, if you were hoping for a long home stand to get the season back on track, this isn't it.
The schedule makers weren't exactly kind for the end of January. You’ve got Oklahoma City on Friday the 23rd and Atlanta on Monday the 26th, both on the road. The Pacers don't actually return to the Fieldhouse until January 28 to face the Chicago Bulls.
Why the Record Looks This Way
It is kind of impossible to talk about the schedule without acknowledging the giant elephant in the room: the injury report. It's been a disaster. Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season with that Achilles injury, which basically ripped the heart out of the offense. Then you’ve got Bennedict Mathurin, who was filling in as a primary scorer but is now sidelined indefinitely with a thumb sprain.
Honestly, it’s mostly the Pascal Siakam show right now. He’s averaging about 23.6 points and nearly 7 rebounds a game. Without him, things would be significantly uglier. Andrew Nembhard has stepped up as the primary floor general, but he’s been dealing with his own health stuff, making the rotation look like a game of musical chairs.
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How to Watch the Pacers Play Next
If you aren't heading to the Fieldhouse tonight (where tickets are starting as low as $12, by the way), you have a few options. Locally, you’re looking at FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (formerly Bally). For those who have cut the cord, WTHR-13 has been picking up some of the slack for local broadcasts lately.
- Local TV: FDSIN or WTHR-13
- Streaming: Fubo or NBA League Pass (if you're out of market)
- Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM The Fan in Indy
Streaming can be a pain with the blackouts, but that’s the current state of regional sports networks. If you’re in Indy, the WTHR option is usually your best bet for a clear signal without the headache.
What to Expect in January and February
The rest of the month is heavy on road games. That’s tough for a team that is statistically much better at home (covering the spread about 56% of the time at the Fieldhouse versus only 44% on the road).
Once we hit February, the schedule stabilizes slightly. They open the month with a home-and-home situation, playing the Rockets on Feb 2 and the Jazz on Feb 3, both in Indianapolis. If the Pacers are going to make any kind of push to respectability before the draft lottery talks get too loud, that early February stretch is where it has to happen.
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There’s also the trade deadline looming in February. With the team hovering well below .500, everyone is watching to see if the front office decides to move veterans like Siakam or Myles Turner (who is always in trade rumors, it seems) to lean harder into the youth movement.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning to follow the team through this stretch, here is how to stay ahead of the game:
- Check the Injury Report Daily: Since the roster is so thin, a single "questionable" tag for Siakam or Nembhard changes the entire betting line and win probability.
- Monitor Ticket Prices: For home games against teams like the Pelicans or Jazz, you can often find "get-in" prices under $15 on apps like SeatGeek or Ticketmaster just an hour before tip-off.
- Update Your Streamer: If you’re using Fubo, double-check that your local channel package hasn't shifted, as regional sports contracts in 2026 have been a bit of a mess.
The Pacers might be struggling, but the energy at the Fieldhouse is usually still solid. Even with a depleted roster, watching guys like Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy get extended minutes gives a glimpse into what the future might look like once Haliburton is back on the floor.
Next Step for You: Mark your calendar for the home game on January 28 against the Bulls if you want to see them back in Indy after this upcoming five-game road trip.