Hornets Vs Pacers Preview: Charlotte Eyes Third Straight Road Win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
hornets vs pacers pits a high-scoring Charlotte roster against an Indiana team trying to stop a slide when the clubs meet on Feb. 26, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The matchup matters because Charlotte arrives on a red-hot stretch while Indiana must respond to mounting defensive problems and a key season-ending injury.
Hornets Vs Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
The Charlotte Hornets (28-31) enter the game looking to extend a road-trip winning streak to three games, having averaged 130. 0 points per game on the trip so far. Charlotte has covered the spread in nine of its last 10 outings and in each of its last five games as a favorite, trends that have shaped the betting market; the Hornets opened as 13-point favorites in the matchup, with a listed price of -110 on that spread.
Recent play on both sides has pushed totals into high ranges: each team has been involved in games that reached at least 230 combined points in each of their last three matchups, and the two clubs have averaged a combined 235. 5 points in their first two meetings this season. Those scoring patterns have been a central factor in projections for the contest, with the Hornets' offensive rhythm positioning them as the team expected to set the pace.
Indiana Pacers defense and Tyrese Haliburton absence
The Indiana Pacers (15-44) arrive having lost four straight and failing to cover in any of those games. The slide includes a 21-point loss on Tuesday when Indiana was an 11. 5-point underdog to the Philadelphia 76ers. Over the season the Pacers are surrendering 119. 2 points per game, and they have allowed more than 130 points to each of their last three opponents — a sequence that has magnified the impact of missing personnel.
Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season with an Achilles injury, a development that has altered Indiana's lineup and on-court responsibilities. That absence helps explain part of the Pacers' defensive exposure: with Haliburton sidelined, the team has struggled to contain opposing offenses and to generate consistency in transition defense and playmaking. What makes this notable is how directly those losses on the stat sheet—119. 2 points allowed and multiple 130-plus concessions—translate into matchup vulnerabilities against a Hornets team averaging 130. 0 points on its road trip.
Matchup implications and betting contours for Feb. 26, 2026
On paper, the intersection of Charlotte's offensive run and Indiana's defensive difficulties frames several likely outcomes. A Hornets victory would extend their short-term surge and further pressure the Pacers in the standings; a decisive Charlotte win would also reinforce the recent trend of high-scoring affairs between the clubs. Conversely, an Indiana turnaround would require immediate defensive improvements and steadier playmaking without Haliburton on the floor.
Betting elements already reflect those dynamics: the spread has favored Charlotte by double digits, and historical scoring trends make the over a common theme in projections for the matchup. For fans and bettors tracking form, the immediate metrics to watch are Indiana's points allowed per game and whether the Hornets maintain their 130. 0 ppg output on the road. The timing matters because both teams enter the contest with clear momentum narratives—Charlotte riding an offensive surge while Indiana confronts sustained defensive lapses and a season-altering injury—which will shape decisions on the floor and at the sportsbooks.
Tip-off is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Hornets will attempt to cap their road swing with a third straight win and the Pacers will seek to halt a four-game losing streak and regain competitive footing for the remainder of the season.
