It’s Pacers’ home opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and who should be courtside to catch all the drama? None other than Fever guard Lexie Hull. Dressed to impress and undoubtedly turning heads, Hull was there to support Indiana’s very own Tyrese Haliburton and the crew. And as for the game? It was nothing short of a rollercoaster, landing the Pacers in a 118-114 overtime loss to the 76ers.
Lexie Hull Shows Up, Shows Out, Shows Support
Hull, fresh off a strong season with the Fever where she helped break the franchise’s eight-year playoff drought, was spotted courtside with her boyfriend, former MLB player Will Matthiessen. She rocked her courtside fit with enough flair to rival some halftime entertainment, sharing a tipoff snapshot and outfit pics on Instagram like the pro influencer she low-key is. Fever’s official X (formerly Twitter) account captured the courtside scene, captioning it, “Lexie Hull supporting the @Pacers squad for their home opener.” You could almost hear Fever fans cheering, “Atta girl, Lexie!”
Haliburton Bounces Back, Puts on a Show in OT… Well, Almost
And while Hull dazzled courtside, Haliburton was putting on a show of his own – and proving he’s human too. After a scoreless night against the Knicks, Haliburton popped off with a season-high 22 points, forcing overtime with a highlight-worthy double-pump 3-pointer. But in a twist of fate that left fans reeling, he missed two critical free throws in OT. Yikes. Those shots could have tied things up, but instead, the Pacers fell just shy.
Maxey’s Madness: 45 Points and a W for Philly
76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was simply in beast mode, tallying a jaw-dropping 45 points to single-handedly outscore the Pacers in OT (10-9). Talk about crushing it. He got some help from Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr., and a rebounding monster performance from Andre Drummond, who hauled down 17 boards.
Pacers Fall Short – But There’s Silver Linings (Sort of)
Despite the heartbreaker, the Pacers had seven players hit double digits, including Haliburton’s 22. Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, Myles Turner, and a few others chipped in too. But unfortunately, the Pacers are still only 1-2, their sole win coming against the Pistons, where Haliburton went stat-sheet crazy with steals, blocks, and clutch plays.
Next on the Agenda: A Tough Road Ahead
The Pacers have the surging Orlando Magic and defending champion Boston Celtics up next. Meanwhile, seven Eastern Conference teams, including Indiana and Philly, sit at 1-2, while the Celtics and Cavs are on an undefeated streak.
So what’s the takeaway? Lexie Hull’s courtside game is as strong as ever, Haliburton’s got some magic (even if it was OT-magic), and Maxey – well, he’s just here to remind everyone how brutal Philly can be in a close game. Buckle up, Pacers fans; the season’s only getting started!