Nets Lose to Pacers in Epic Tank-Off

Kam Jones' late three-pointer gives Pacers the win, hurting Nets' draft position

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a game that saw both the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers resting key players in an effort to improve their draft position, the Pacers came away with a 115-110 victory thanks to a late three-pointer from rookie Kam Jones. The win leaves the Nets and Pacers tied with 15 wins, intensifying the race to the bottom of the standings.

Why it matters

The Nets are trying to lose games to improve their draft position, as they owe a pick swap to the Houston Rockets in 2027. Meanwhile, the Pacers are also in tank mode, having traded away their 2026 first-round pick to the Clippers. This game highlighted the widespread issue of tanking in the NBA post-trade deadline.

The details

The Pacers rested several starters, including Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, while the Nets held out Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton. Despite this, the Pacers were able to come back from a late deficit, with rookie Micah Potter scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to set up Jones' game-winning three-pointer.

  • The game was played on February 12, 2026.
  • Jones hit the game-winning shot with 16 seconds remaining in the game.

The players

Kam Jones

A rookie guard for the Indiana Pacers, drafted 38th overall in 2025, who hit the game-winning three-pointer.

Micah Potter

An undrafted center for the Indiana Pacers who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to help set up the win.

Brooklyn Nets

The team that is trying to lose games to improve their draft position, as they owe a pick swap to the Houston Rockets in 2027.

Indiana Pacers

The team that is also in tank mode, having traded away their 2026 first-round pick to the Clippers.

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What’s next

The Pacers' odds of getting a top-4 pick in the 2026 draft have dropped from 52.1% to 48.1% due to their recent wins, and could drop further if they move ahead of the Nets in the standings.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the widespread issue of tanking in the NBA, as both the Nets and Pacers rested key players in an effort to improve their draft position. However, the win by the Pacers, led by unheralded players like Kam Jones and Micah Potter, showed that even in a tank-off, unexpected heroes can emerge.