2025-26 · Regular Season · Final
Indiana Pacers at Charlotte Hornets
Thursday, January 8, 2026 · tip-off 7:00 PM ET
IND 0–1@CHA 6–0 records going into the game NBA.com recap ↗
Forecast and result
| Team | Projected | Final | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND Indiana Pacers | 115 | 114 | −1 |
| CHA Charlotte Hornets (home) | 123 | 112 | −11 |
Forecast: Charlotte Hornets to win, 71% win probability, projected margin 8.
Inside the Forecast
How the inputs are builtWhat the model received
| Input | IND | CHA |
|---|---|---|
| Elo ratingMargin-of-victory Elo; 1500 is average. | 1343 | 1455 |
| Elo gap, home minus road, incl. home court | +183 | |
| Season scoring marginPoints per game, blended with last season early in the year. | −8.9 | −1.8 |
| Games played this season | 37 | 37 |
| Offensive rating, last 10Points scored per 100 possessions. | 108.5 | 118.5 |
| Defensive rating, last 10Points allowed per 100 possessions; lower is better. | 120.0 | 115.7 |
| Combined pace, last 10Possessions per game, both teams. | 100.6 | |
| Rotation points missingPoints per game of rotation players listed Out or Doubtful. | 13.8 | 0.0 |
| Rest days | 2 | 1 |
| Second night of a back-to-back | No | Yes |
This forecast can't be broken down exactly: the model version that made this forecast is not available. Explanations are shown only when the model that made a forecast can be rebuilt and reproduces it. How explanations are checked
Built from the box scores
How the breakdowns workWhere each input came from. Open a row to see the games and box-score stats behind it. A breakdown is shown only when rebuilding it from the stored stats gives exactly the number the model received.
Elo ratingIND1343CHA1455
Updated after every game from the final score only: wins, losses and margin. Each season starts by keeping 75% of last season's distance from the 1500 average.
IND1343
- Ended last season at 1673 → started this one at 1630
- First 27 games: −219.3
- Last 10 games: −68.0
- L@NOP109–128−15.6
- L@BOS95–103−2.5
- LMIL94–111−17.6
- LBOS122–140−7.6
- L@MIA116–142−8.4
- L@HOU119–126−1.6
- LORL110–112−3.1
- LSAS113–123−5.1
- L@ORL127–135−2.9
- LCLE116–120−3.6
CHA1455
- Ended last season at 1237 → started this one at 1303
- First 27 games: +75.6
- Last 10 games: +76.7
- L@DET86–112−4.7
- L@CLE132–139−3.2
- WWAS126–109+7.4
- W@ORL120–105+27.4
- LMIL113–123−12.1
- LGSW125–132−5.5
- L@MIL121–122−2.5
- W@CHI112–99+18.3
- W@OKC124–97+56.2
- LTOR96–97−4.6
Season scoring marginIND−8.9CHA−1.8
Points scored minus points allowed per game this season, mixed with last season's margin until 20 games are played.
IND−8.9
Scores 110.8, allows 119.7 over 37 games: −8.9 a game.
CHA−1.8
Scores 115.5, allows 117.3 over 37 games: −1.8 a game.
Offensive rating, last 10IND108.5CHA118.5
Points scored per 100 possessions. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2025-26 to date: 114.8).
IND108.5scored, −6.4 vs league
| Factor | IND | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 54.2% | 54.5% | −0.5 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.3% | 12.3% | −0.0 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.2% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.191 | 0.216 | −0.7 | |
| Everything else | −5.2 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 10 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
CHA118.5scored, +3.7 vs league
| Factor | CHA | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 54.9% | 54.5% | +0.6 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 13.3% | 12.3% | −1.4 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.2% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.217 | 0.216 | +0.0 | |
| Everything else | +4.5 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 10 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
Defensive rating, last 10IND120.0CHA115.7
Points allowed per 100 possessions, built from what opponents did in those games. Bars point right when the defense held opponents below average. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2025-26 to date: 114.8).
IND120.0allowed, +5.1 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 58.2% | 54.5% | −5.7 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 12.2% | 12.3% | −0.2 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.2% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.237 | 0.216 | −0.6 | |
| Everything else | +1.3 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 10 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
CHA115.7allowed, +0.9 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 54.0% | 54.5% | +0.8 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 9.8% | 12.3% | −3.5 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | n/a | 26.2% | – | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.195 | 0.216 | +0.6 | |
| Everything else | +1.3 |
Offensive rebounds weren't recorded for 10 of these 10 games, so rebounding isn't split out; its effect is inside "Everything else".
Pace, last 10average 100.6
Possessions per 48 minutes. The model uses the average of the two teams. Faster games mean more points for both sides, so pace mostly moves the projected total, not the margin.
IND 103.4 and CHA 97.8 → average 100.6 (league 2025-26 to date: 100.7)
Rotation points missingIND13.8CHA0.0
Points per game of rotation players (two or more of the last 10 games this season, 15+ minutes) listed Out or Doubtful on the official injury report.
IND13.8pts/g missing
| Player | Pts | Min | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennedict Mathurin | 13.8 | 30.6 | 8 |
Source: official injury report, 2026-01-08 17:30 ET. 9 rotation players.
CHA0.0pts/g missing
Every rotation player was available.
Source: official injury report, 2026-01-08 17:30 ET. 10 rotation players.
RestIND2 daysCHA1 days
Days since the team's previous game, capped at 5. One day means the second night of a back-to-back.
IND2days
Last played Jan 6 against CLE.
CHA1day, back-to-back
Last played Jan 7 against TOR.
The last 10 games behind these numbers, box-score totals
IND
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 6 | CLE | 116–120 | 43-93 | 16-35 | 14-19 | 11 | – | 110.5 | 115.4 | 104.5 |
| Jan 4 | @ORL | 127–135 | 48-87 | 15-34 | 16-21 | 11 | – | 125.7 | 133.7 | 101.0 |
| Jan 2 | SAS | 113–123 | 44-86 | 12-30 | 13-15 | 14 | – | 106.6 | 116.0 | 106.0 |
| Dec 31 | ORL | 110–112 | 36-83 | 12-35 | 26-32 | 16 | – | 100.9 | 102.8 | 109.0 |
| Dec 29 | @HOU | 119–126 | 44-88 | 18-34 | 13-20 | 9 | – | 121.4 | 128.6 | 98.0 |
| Dec 27 | @MIA | 116–142 | 46-93 | 12-38 | 12-16 | 26 | – | 106.4 | 130.3 | 109.0 |
| Dec 26 | BOS | 122–140 | 44-89 | 18-44 | 16-20 | 14 | – | 118.4 | 137.3 | 102.5 |
| Dec 23 | MIL | 94–111 | 33-81 | 8-31 | 20-33 | 12 | – | 94.9 | 112.1 | 99.0 |
| Dec 22 | @BOS | 95–103 | 33-85 | 13-40 | 16-18 | 12 | – | 100.0 | 106.2 | 96.0 |
| Dec 20 | @NOP | 109–128 | 40-94 | 8-42 | 21-30 | 14 | – | 100.0 | 117.4 | 109.0 |
CHA
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7 | TOR | 96–97 | 32-82 | 14-38 | 18-22 | 18 | – | 105.5 | 106.6 | 91.0 |
| Jan 5 | @OKC | 124–97 | 41-77 | 19-37 | 23-25 | 21 | – | 127.8 | 100.0 | 97.0 |
| Jan 3 | @CHI | 112–99 | 39-91 | 15-41 | 19-23 | 11 | – | 112.0 | 100.0 | 99.5 |
| Jan 2 | @MIL | 121–122 | 40-82 | 18-40 | 23-28 | 14 | – | 124.7 | 125.8 | 97.0 |
| Dec 31 | GSW | 125–132 | 48-93 | 16-40 | 13-17 | 15 | – | 123.8 | 130.7 | 101.0 |
| Dec 29 | MIL | 113–123 | 40-93 | 17-46 | 16-20 | 13 | – | 121.5 | 129.5 | 94.0 |
| Dec 26 | @ORL | 120–105 | 41-87 | 19-39 | 19-28 | 14 | – | 123.7 | 107.1 | 97.5 |
| Dec 23 | WAS | 126–109 | 42-93 | 20-50 | 22-27 | 4 | – | 134.0 | 114.7 | 94.5 |
| Dec 22 | @CLE | 132–139 | 46-94 | 21-42 | 19-25 | 19 | – | 132.0 | 136.3 | 101.0 |
| Dec 20 | @DET | 86–112 | 28-89 | 13-41 | 17-20 | 23 | – | 80.4 | 106.7 | 106.0 |
Off and Def are points scored and allowed per 100 possessions in each game; their averages are the 10-game ratings above. OREB is missing (–) where the source data didn't record it.
The result against the forecast
2025-26 surprise gamesSurprise is measured against this model's forecast, not against what other observers expected. Outcome surprise is −ln(winner's pregame probability): 0.69 for a coin flip, 2.3 for a 10% winner.
Team box score
What happened in the game. These numbers are not used by the forecast, and they are not offered as the reason it missed.
| Team stat | IND | CHA |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 114 | 112 |
| Field goals | 41–82 · 50.0% | 39–86 · 45.3% |
| Three-pointers | 12–27 · 44.4% | 16–44 · 36.4% |
| Free throws | 20–21 · 95.2% | 18–24 · 75.0% |
| Rebounds | 41 | 35 |
| Assists | 25 | 29 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 16 |
| Steals | 9 | 8 |
| Blocks | 6 | 3 |
How the model does with these teams over time: Indiana Pacers · Charlotte Hornets
Where the forecast differed from the result
| Measure | Forecast | Actual | Actual − forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home margin (CHA) | +8 | −2 | −10 |
| Total points | 238 | 226 | −12 |
| IND points | 115 | 114 | −1 |
| CHA points | 123 | 112 | −11 |
Recent form before this game
Previous meetings
| Date | Matchup | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 19 2025-26 | CHA at IND | CHA 118 – 127 IND |
| Apr 2 2024-25 | CHA at IND | CHA 105 – 119 IND |
| Dec 8 2024-25 | CHA at IND | CHA 113 – 109 IND |
| Nov 8 2024-25 | IND at CHA | IND 83 – 103 CHA |
| Feb 12 2023-24 | IND at CHA | IND 102 – 111 CHA |