Pacers beat Nets 123-94 behind Obi Toppin’s 26

The Indiana Pacers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 123-94 on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Barclays Center, with Obi Toppin leading all scorers with 26 points in a balanced road win. Indiana took control early, built a 26-point halftime lead, and never gave Brooklyn a real path back into the game.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Indiana set the tone immediately, outscoring Brooklyn 31-14 in the opening period. The Pacers moved the ball cleanly, found efficient looks, and forced the Nets to play from behind almost from the opening minutes. Brooklyn managed just 14 points in the quarter and struggled to establish rhythm offensively.

Second Quarter

The Pacers kept the pressure on in the second, winning the quarter 32-23. By halftime, Indiana held a 63-37 lead after consistently generating quality shots and controlling the glass. Brooklyn had trouble matching Indiana’s pace and execution, and the deficit continued to grow as the Nets shot below 40 percent for the game.

Third Quarter

Both teams scored 35 points in the third quarter, but that even stretch did little to change the overall picture. Brooklyn showed more life offensively, with E.J. Liddell helping carry the scoring load, but Indiana answered each push and kept its sizable margin intact heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

Indiana closed the game with a 25-22 edge in the final period to finish off the 29-point victory. With the outcome largely in hand, the Pacers stayed organized on both ends and avoided any late momentum swing from the home side.

Key Performers

Indiana Pacers
Obi Toppin led Indiana with 26 points and added nine rebounds, delivering the top scoring performance of the night. Micah Potter anchored the glass with 14 rebounds, while Jarace Walker paced the Pacers’ playmaking with eight assists. As a team, Indiana finished with 51 made field goals, shot 52.0 percent from the floor, and recorded an impressive 43 assists.

Brooklyn Nets
E.J. Liddell was Brooklyn’s clear bright spot, posting 26 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Ben Saraf led the Nets with six assists. Outside of Liddell’s production, Brooklyn struggled to find enough efficient offense, finishing at 38.5 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from three-point range.

NerdSports Stat: Indiana finished with 43 assists on 51 made field goals, meaning 84.3 percent of the Pacers’ baskets were assisted in one of their most connected offensive performances of the season.

Game Analysis

This game was decided by Indiana’s command of the fundamentals from the opening quarter onward. The Pacers dominated the rebound battle 66-43, which gave them extra possessions and limited Brooklyn’s chances to build sustained runs. Indiana also separated itself with ball movement, posting a 43-20 advantage in assists and turning efficient half-court possessions into a steady stream of quality attempts.

Brooklyn’s biggest issue was shot-making. The Nets went 37-of-96 from the field and just 8-of-38 from beyond the arc, numbers that made it difficult to respond after the rough opening quarter. Even though both teams made eight three-pointers, Indiana needed fewer attempts and got far more production inside the arc. The Pacers’ 52.0 percent shooting compared to Brooklyn’s 38.5 percent underscored how much cleaner Indiana’s offense looked throughout the night.

Another key factor was how early Indiana grabbed control. The 17-point first-quarter edge gave the Pacers room to dictate tempo and stay balanced the rest of the way. Brooklyn’s 35-point third quarter was encouraging, but because Indiana matched it exactly, the Nets never meaningfully trimmed the margin.

Closing Context

The result moved Indiana to 19-61 overall and 8-33 on the road, while Brooklyn fell to 20-60 and 12-29 at home. With both teams near the end of the regular season and outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture, this game served mainly as a late-season evaluation opportunity, and Indiana came away with the more complete performance.

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