The Indiana Pacers' challenging season continues as they prepare to face the Charlotte Hornets on the road on January 8, 2026, once again without their star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton. The franchise player remains sidelined for the rest of the campaign after suffering a devastating Achilles injury earlier this season.
Pacers' Mounting Injury Crisis
Haliburton's absence is a massive blow to the Pacers' system, where he was the central orchestrator of the offense. The team has visibly struggled to find consistent ball movement and scoring without his playmaking. The injury list extends far beyond Haliburton, creating a significant depth problem for Indiana.
Bennedict Mathurin is out with a thumb injury, Obi Toppin is sidelined with a foot issue, and Isaiah Jackson is in the concussion protocol and unavailable. This has forced the coaching staff to rely heavily on depth pieces and role players, leading to frequent lineup changes and a lack of on-court consistency.
Game Preview: Hornets Look to End Skid vs Depleted Pacers
The Charlotte Hornets, holding a record near 13-23, enter this matchup aiming to snap a three-game losing streak at home. They are considered the favorites, with the spread set at Charlotte -4.5 points. The total over/under for the game is 234.5.
A key area of advantage for the Hornets could be rebounding, where they average 44.9 boards per game. Moussa Diabate, averaging 8.3 rebounds, will be crucial in exploiting this potential mismatch. Charlotte has its own injury concerns, with Mason Plumlee (groin) and Grant Williams (ACL) ruled out.
Haliburton's History vs Charlotte and the Road Ahead
Haliburton's unavailability is particularly poignant given his stellar record against the Hornets. In his last 10 meetings with Charlotte, he averaged 18.2 points, 9.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds. This includes a spectacular 43-point outburst on November 4, 2023. His ability to dissect their defense with elite passing and shooting will be sorely missed tonight.
The bigger picture for Indiana is one of offensive limitation. The loss of Haliburton, compounded by the earlier departure of Myles Turner, has left the team's attack looking predictable and constrained. Betting markets have shifted focus to Hornets' players like LaMelo Ball, whose assist props are in the spotlight against Indiana's weakened playmaking defense.
For Haliburton, the focus is now entirely on rehabilitation for the 2026-27 season. At 25 years old, his prime years are still ahead, but the Pacers must navigate the remainder of a difficult season without their leader on the floor.
