Pacers-Nets Showdown Carries Major NBA Draft Lottery Stakes

The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are battling for bottom-three records and top draft lottery odds.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:03pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.The high-stakes matchup between the Pacers and Nets could reshape the top of the NBA Draft Lottery.Indianapolis Today

The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are facing off in a game that carries major implications for the NBA Draft Lottery. The Pacers are in a strong position to secure a bottom-three record, which would give them the best odds of landing a top-four pick. Meanwhile, the Nets are trying to avoid falling out of the bottom three, as that would significantly worsen their draft positioning. With numerous players ruled out due to injury, the game is expected to feature heavy minutes for young, unproven talent as both teams look to improve their lottery odds.

Why it matters

This game highlights the NBA's ongoing struggle with tanking, as teams are incentivized to lose games late in the season in order to improve their draft positioning. While the league has tried to address this issue, games like this one showcase how the current system can lead to a suboptimal on-court product as teams prioritize draft positioning over winning.

The details

The Pacers have protected their 2026 first-round pick, ensuring it will either stay with them if it lands in the top four or convey to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls outside the top nine. A loss to the Nets would guarantee the Pacers a bottom-three record, giving them the best odds of keeping their pick. For the Nets, a win would jeopardize their chances of landing in the bottom three, potentially costing them a higher draft position. Both teams have extensive injury reports, with a combined 20 players listed as out or questionable, leading to significant playing time for young, unproven talent.

  • The Pacers and Nets are facing off on April 9, 2026.
  • The Pacers have three games remaining on their schedule after this matchup.
  • The Nets have three games left on their schedule after this contest.

The players

Indiana Pacers

An NBA team that is currently in a strong position to secure a bottom-three record, which would give them the best odds of landing a top-four pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Brooklyn Nets

An NBA team that is trying to avoid falling out of the bottom three, as that would significantly worsen their draft positioning for the 2026 NBA Draft.

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What they’re saying

“Games like these are why the NBA is frustrated with the level of tanking going around the league. Seeing an injury report longer than the list of players available is a terrible look, but the way the league has incentivized teams to lose for better draft positioning is nobody's fault but their own.”

— Alex Golden, NBA Analyst

What’s next

The Pacers and Nets will play their remaining games after this matchup, with the Pacers looking to secure a bottom-three record and the Nets trying to avoid falling out of the bottom three. The results of these games will have a significant impact on the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

The takeaway

This game highlights the ongoing tension between the NBA's desire for competitive balance and teams' incentives to tank for better draft positioning. While the league has tried to address this issue, games like this one showcase how the current system can lead to a suboptimal on-court product as teams prioritize draft positioning over winning.