The Brooklyn Nets (1-5) had been saying all of the right things after they began the 2026-27 NBA season with an 0-5 following some winnable games that the Nets let slip away. Brooklyn had another tough situation to deal with a back-to-back against the Indiana Pacers (2-5) and New York Knicks, but the Nets finally took care of business against a vulnerable Pacers team.

"I really liked the energy of everybody on the team, on the bench, the guys on the floor. We took good shots and they were not falling and a lot of times, the anxiety hits," Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said after Sunday's 98-90 win over Indiana. With the Pacers missing key players in guard Tyrese Haliburton and center Ivica Zubac, Brooklyn had the best opportunity to win a game that they've had so far this season.

"The team stayed together and won the first quarter, stayed together and won the second quarter, stayed together and won the third quarter, and I think that's what matters the most," Fernandez continued. "I know we ended up losing the fourth by one point, but I'd rather take a win like this that you have to grind all the way because that just makes you better."

Despite the fact that the Nets weren't able to separate in the first half from a Pacers team missing Haliburton and Zubac, Brooklyn was able to extend its lead to double-digits in the third quarter thanks to some of the stars stepping up. Forward Michael Porter Jr. had 23 points and nine rebounds while forward Julius Randle had 20 points and six assists.

It was a rough shooting game for both teams as the Nets shot just 41% from the field and 33% from three-point land, but they held the Pacers to 40% and 37%, respectively. Center Day'Ron Sharpe also had his best game of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds while only picking up two fouls so it seems like the Nets did what it needed to do to come away from Indiana with a victory.