Opening week of the 2026-27 NBA season sends the Indiana Pacers on the road to meet the New Orleans Pelicans, tipping at 8:00 PM ET on October 21, 2026 inside Smoothie King Center. Here is everything on the Pacers vs Pelicans odds, the latest health news and how each roster stacks up.
Pacers vs Pelicans odds: Lines, Venue and TV
| Matchup | Indiana Pacers at New Orleans Pelicans |
|---|---|
| Records (2026-27) | Pacers 0-0 | Pelicans 0-0 |
| 2025-26 records | Pacers 19-63 | Pelicans 26-56 |
| Spread | Pacers -3.5 (-112) / Pelicans +3.5 (-108) |
| Moneyline | Pacers -155 / Pelicans +130 |
| Total | O/U 239.5 (over -115, under -105) |
| Venue | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA |
| Date | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 |
| Time | 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM MST) |
| TV | NBA League Pass |
Source for the table: DraftKings via ESPN, taken Tue Oct 20 2026 10:27 PM MST. Expect some movement before the opening tip.
Opening Numbers vs. Current Prices
The Pacers vs Pelicans odds opened with the home Pelicans at +4.5, and the Pelicans are now home underdogs getting +3.5 while the visiting Pacers lay -3.5, a shift of 1 point since the open. On the moneyline, the Pacers went from -175 at the open to -155, while the Pelicans moved from +145 to +130. The total opened at 240.5 and is 239.5 now, a move of 1 point.
Converted to implied probability, Pacers at -155 works out to 60.8% and Pelicans at +130 to 43.5%, with the difference above 100% reflecting the sportsbook margin. The Pacers are laying the points in the current Pacers vs Pelicans odds.
Storylines: Pacers at Pelicans
The Indiana Pacers finished 2025-26 at 19-63 (11-30 at home, 8-33 on the road), the No. 14 seed in the Eastern Conference, scoring 112.4 points per game and allowing 120.4 for a -8.0 average margin. They closed the season 3-7 over their last 10 games under head coach Rick Carlisle.
The New Orleans Pelicans finished 2025-26 at 26-56 (17-24 at home, 9-32 on the road), the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference, scoring 115.5 points per game and allowing 120.0 for a -4.5 average margin. Head coach Jamahl Mosley saw the club go 1-9 across its final 10 contests.
Head-to-head from 2025-26: Dec 21: Pelicans 128-109; Jan 17: Pacers 127-119. That added up to a 1-1 mark for the Pelicans. This is the first of the 2026-27 regular-season meetings, and the Pacers vs Pelicans odds reflect a fresh slate for both clubs.
ESPN’s game page frames the night simply: "New Orleans begins season at home against Indiana." Both teams start at 0-0, so last season’s résumé and the preseason are the only on-court evidence available.
Recent Form
The Pacers went 1-4 in their last 5 exhibition games (L 133-121 vs. Detroit Pistons; W 123-112 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves; L 119-117 vs. Atlanta Hawks; L 114-112 OT at Oklahoma City Thunder; L 128-127 OT vs. Milwaukee Bucks), averaging 120.0 points while allowing 121.2.
Across their final 5 preseason outings, the Pelicans posted a 3-2 record: L 132-126 at Minnesota Timberwolves; W 116-110 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder; L 128-118 at Miami Heat; W 101-97 at Dallas Mavericks; W 107-106 vs. Washington Wizards. That works out to 113.6 points scored and 114.6 allowed per night.
Exhibition scores are worth a look but rarely tell the whole story, because coaches manage workloads closely.
Pacers and Pelicans Injuries
Indiana Pacers: T.J. McConnell (G, Hamstring) is listed as out, with an estimated return of Oct 23, 2026; Aaron Nesmith (G, Hamstring) is listed as out, with an estimated return of Oct 23, 2026; Johnny Furphy (G, Knee) is listed as out, with an estimated return of Jan 2, 2027. Last season’s profile is one input in the Pacers vs Pelicans odds.
New Orleans Pelicans: no players appear on ESPN’s injury report for this game. Form like this tends to get priced into the Pacers vs Pelicans odds.
Final statuses are often confirmed close to tipoff, so watch for movement in the Pacers vs Pelicans odds if a listed player is ruled in or out.
Key Players and Roster Notes
Among players still on the current roster, the Pacers’ top 2025-26 per-game marks on ESPN’s leader board belong to Pascal Siakam in points (24.0) and rebounds (6.6) and Andrew Nembhard in assists (7.7). Andrew Nembhard (16.9 ppg) and Jarace Walker (11.6 ppg) also return as scoring options. Personnel is the main variable in the Pacers vs Pelicans odds this early in the year.
ESPN’s current Pacers roster lists 17 players: Kobe Brown, Johnny Furphy, Tyrese Haliburton, Jay Huff, Quenton Jackson, T.J. McConnell, Larry Nance Jr., Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ben Sheppard, Pascal Siakam, Jalen Slawson, Braden Smith, Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker and Ivica Zubac. First-year players include Braden Smith. This is worth weighing alongside the Pacers vs Pelicans odds.
Among players still on the current roster, the Pelicans’ top 2025-26 per-game marks on ESPN’s leader board belong to Trey Murphy III in points (21.5) and assists (3.8) and Derik Queen in rebounds (7.1). Zion Williamson (21.0 ppg) and Saddiq Bey (17.7 ppg) also return as scoring options.
ESPN’s current Pelicans roster lists 18 players: Saddiq Bey, Malik Dia, Jeremiah Fears, AJ Johnson, Herbert Jones, DeAndre Jordan, Bennedict Mathurin, Karlo Matkovic, Bryce McGowens, Yves Missi, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Jaron Pierre Jr., Jordan Poole, Derik Queen, Julian Reese, Trendon Watford and Zion Williamson. First-year players include Malik Dia and Jaron Pierre Jr..
Broadcast Information
Coverage is on NBA League Pass. The ball goes up at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM MST) in New Orleans, LA. For live box scores and play-by-play, the ESPN game page carries the official feed.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Pacers vs. Pelicans
What are the Pacers vs Pelicans odds?
As of Tue Oct 20 2026 10:27 PM MST, DraftKings lists the spread at Pacers -3.5 (-112) / Pelicans +3.5 (-108), the moneyline at Pacers -155 / Pelicans +130 and the total at 239.5 (over -115, under -105).
What time does Pacers vs. Pelicans start and what channel is it on?
Tipoff is 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM MST) on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. The broadcast is on NBA League Pass.
Who is on the injury report for Pacers vs. Pelicans?
Pacers: T.J. McConnell (out), Aaron Nesmith (out) and Johnny Furphy (out); Pelicans: none listed, per ESPN.
How did the Pacers and Pelicans finish last season?
The Pacers went 19-63 in 2025-26 and the Pelicans went 26-56, per ESPN standings.
Have the Pacers vs Pelicans odds moved since opening?
The home spread (Pelicans) opened at +4.5 and is +3.5 now, which makes the visiting Pacers the favorite; the total opened at 240.5 and sits at 239.5.