It was a vibe at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday night when Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull graced the Pacers’ home opener against the Philadelphia 76ers—bringing some serious courtside energy alongside boyfriend and ex-MLB player, Will Matthiessen. Unfortunately for Tyrese Haliburton and his squad, even Hull’s courtside luck couldn’t stop the Sixers from stealing the win, as Philly edged Indiana 118-114 in overtime.
Decked out and ready to slay (as seen on her Instagram Stories), Hull shared glimpses of her fit along with a snapshot of the tipoff. She was all smiles, cheering on Haliburton and Co., proving that Indiana sports know how to keep it in the family. The Fever’s social media even joined in, posting Hull’s courtside pic with the caption:
“Lexie Hull supporting the @Pacers squad for their home opener!”
Despite her off-season support, the Pacers could’ve used some Fever playoff magic on the hardwood, but hey, moral victories count, right
Haliburton’s Redemption Tour: The Good, the Bad, and the Free Throws
After getting blanked with zero points in the previous game against the Knicks, Haliburton bounced back with a season-high 22 points, adding four rebounds and two assists. For a brief moment, it looked like Haliburton was going to write his redemption arc—especially after sinking an insane double-pump three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left to force OT.
Cue the cheers! Cue the memes! Tyrese Haliburton was back… or so we thought.
In a plot twist crueler than an unskippable ad, Haliburton bricked two crucial free throws in OT that could’ve tied the game at 116. If you listened closely, you could hear the collective groan from every Pacers fan in the arena—and probably a chuckle or two from Philly’s bench.
Tyrese Maxey’s World, and We’re Just Living In It
While Haliburton struggled to hit those freebies, Tyrese Maxey decided to turn Gainbridge Fieldhouse into his personal playground. Maxey went off for 45 points, outscoring the entire Pacers lineup 10-9 by himself in overtime.
If Maxey’s season-high wasn’t already enough to make Indiana fans cry into their nachos, the rest of the Sixers weren’t exactly slouches. Caleb Martin dropped 17 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 14, and big man Andre Drummond snagged a ridiculous 17 rebounds. Philly walked away with their first win of the season, while the Pacers were left scratching their heads.
The Pacers’ Silver Linings Playbook: Everyone Scores, But…
Despite the loss, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Indiana. Seven Pacers hit double figures, showing the kind of balanced offense that makes coaches proud (even if it doesn’t win games).
Pascal Siakam led the way with 17 points, while Obi Toppin chipped in 15. Meanwhile, Myles Turner dropped 14 points and Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, and Aaron Nesmith each added 10. The problem? The Pacers needed someone—anyone—to match Maxey’s heat, and nobody quite stepped up.
Next Up: A Rough Road Ahead
With a 1-2 record, the Pacers have some serious work to do. They snuck by the Pistons in their opener, but tough tests await against the rising Orlando Magic and the reigning champs, Boston Celtics. The Eastern Conference is no joke this year, with the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Hawks already flexing.
Haliburton and his squad better hope that tonight’s missed free throws are just a blip and not a trend—because the road only gets tougher from here.
Lexie Hull: Courtside MVP?
Though the Pacers couldn’t lock in a win, having Lexie Hull in the building was definitely a W for Indiana sports fans. Hull played a key role in leading the Fever to end their eight-year playoff drought this past WNBA season, averaging 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. With boyfriend Will Matthiessen by her side, she proved that a little off-season basketball date night never hurt anyone.
Who knows? Maybe Hull is the Pacers’ secret weapon in waiting. They might want to sneak her onto the roster—after all, a little Fever magic wouldn’t hurt with Maxey running wild.
Stay tuned, Pacers fans. If Indiana doesn’t pull off a win soon, Haliburton might need to book more dinner dates with Lexie Hull—because at this rate, the Fever might have a better shot at the playoffs than the Pacers.