It was a late one Friday night, but fans were rewarded for staying up.

The Indiana Fever continued their best stretch of the season, defeating the Portland Fire 112-98 for their season-best fifth consecutive win.

Caitlin Clark led the way with her first triple-double of the season and the fourth of her professional career, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Her final assist came with 33.8 seconds left, Clark finding Makayla Timpson in a pick-and-roll action.

In the Fever’s first visit to Portland this season, back on May 30, they lost 100-84 and Clark was hampered by foul trouble all game. That kept her to a season-low six points.

Clark beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer to end the first quarter, which put the Fever in front 27-25. She appeared to fouled on the shot, too, but it was not called.

Clark scored the bulk of her points at the foul line, sinking 14 of 17. Her attempts are up this season (6.3 per game) and last game, she finished a perfect 10 for 10 at the line.

Once again, the Fever overcome a poor start to the second quarter. They outscored the Fire 23-7 over the final six minutes to take a nine-point lead into the locker room.

And then they continued to add to their lead once play resumed in front of a sellout crowd of 19,959 inside the Moda Center.

Kelsey Mitchell matched Clark with 26 points while extending one of the most impressive streaks in the league: 13 consecutive games with at least 20 points and three made 3-pointers.

But this was far from a two-player performance.

Six Fever players scored in double figures as Indiana surpassed 100 points for the 13th time this season. Sophie Cunningham made three 3s and provided 13 points off the bench, while Timpson made the most of her opportunity by contributing 15 points in just 19 minutes.

Another bright spot: Monique Billings. As one of four starters in double figures, Billings finished with 15 points and seven rebounds — her third straight game with at least 12 points.

The Fever know what they’ll get from their Big Three each night. They’re streaking right now due to good health and contributions from role players.

Speaking of the Big Three, it was significant that Aliyah Boston was back out there and played more than 30 minutes after a scary fall last game.

With 4:56 to play in the second quarter of their win on Tuesday in Seattle, Boston landed on her right knee that has been bothering her all season.

She went back to the locker room and did not return to the game, but she did return to the bench for the second half to support her teammates. The team didn't want to risk playing her in the second half and wanted to make sure she is good moving forward.

This was their third and final time playing the Fire in the first 29 games, with the Fever taking the season series 2-1.

The Fever improved to 19-10, climbing up to fourth in the WNBA standings, and have found another level offensively — and in their efficiency — since returning from the All-Star break.

During this five-game win streak, they’ve scored 105 points or more in each game.

The Fever now head to Minnesota to conclude the three-game road trip Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ABC). The Lynx have a league-best 24-6 record, but four of their losses have come at home.

Watch my postgame recap below:

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The Pacers have a new alternate uniform for the upcoming season and they’re throwing it back to one of the (gold)en ages of Pacers basketball.

The pinstripes, first introduced in 1997, are back for the Pacers’ 2026-27 Statement Edition uniform. For longtime fans, it recalls an era of sustained success — highlighted by the franchise’s run to the 2000 NBA Finals.

“The pinstripes that defined one of the greatest eras in franchise history are back, reimagined for today’s team and the next generation of Pacers basketball,” the team said. “A new statement, built from an unmistakable part of who we are.”

Nearly 30 years later, however, the new design includes several notable differences.

• The Statement Edition features a Jordan Brand logo.

• The Lucas Oil sponsorship patch is on the upper-left side of the jersey.

• The team’s secondary logo — a Pacers ‘P’ inside the outline of the state — is displayed on the left side of the shorts.

• Slick Leonard’s iconic “Boom Baby!” phrase is placed above the tag on the front of the jersey. (The phrase is also officially a secondary logo of the team.)

The front of the jersey emphasizes the state with INDIANA in navy and outlined in white. The lettering is Tungsten Semibold, the Pacers’ official font.

The most pronounced difference: the fading color, from yellow to gold. The team says the design is intended to reflect gold in motion.

“A tonal gold gradient adds depth and movement to the uniform, reflecting the pace, energy and forward momentum of today’s Pacers.”

Here’s a full look at the jersey and shorts (via PS&E):

Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton has publicly pushed for new uniforms for some time. But the design process takes years. This uniform was three years in the making.

“s/o the OGs, let’s rock,” Haliburton tweeted on Thursday after the leaked uniform design was officially announced.

Haliburton likes the yellow pinstripes, he told GQ in an interview back in Jan. 2024. And in talking about the video game NBA 2K, he was asked about the Pacers’ classic jerseys.

“Elite throwbacks. Everybody always puts them in the pinstripes, of course.”

During the Pacers’ 2024 postseason run to the Eastern Conference Finals, they wore their previous gold uniforms in all 17 games. Those uniforms are now behind them.

Now, the franchise is tapping into its history as it moves forward into what it hopes will be a special season — with good health.

CHICAGO — Caitlin Clark opened the WNBA All-Star game with a 3-point attempt after A’ja Wilson won the tip. She missed, but just 14 seconds later, Clark intercepted a pass and took it the other way for a wide-open layup.

Then she made a 3-pointer. And another. And another.

Just 2:32 in the game, Clark had scored 11 of Team Weatherspoon’s first 13 points — and outscored Team Cooper on her own, 11-9.

Suffice to say, she had eagerly anticipated what was to come from the 2026 WNBA All-Star game.

During warmups, she made that clear to a teammate. Clark was captured in a mic’d-up segment saying. “I’m going to be launching bombs.”

Clark is a basketball player, but she also understands better than anyone that she’s also an entertainer. And a sellout crowd of 19,783 inside the United Center, plus millions more at home watching on ABC, wanted to be treated to show.

All-Star Weekend is nothing new to Clark. She was the top vote-getter in each of her first two seasons, and last year’s game was held in Indianapolis. But she was unable to participate in the game and 3-point contest — which she planned to enter for the first time as a professional — due to an injury suffered four days earlier against the Connecticut Sun.

Still, she showed up to practice and completed her media obligations.

“Last year really stunk with it being in our home city,” Clark acknowledged. “You never want to miss that. You never want to miss that for the fans. So I love to show up and get to compete and play.

“Anytime you get to put on your uniform and play in an All-Star game is really special. And it was kind of a unique experience for myself because I really haven’t played in a true All-Star game.”

Her first appearance was unique because 2024 was an Olympic year. Clark was left off Team USA so she played for the WNBA All-Stars, who defeated the Olympic Team in a thrilling game that set a new standard for the event.

That was in Phoenix.

Now two years later in Chicago, rookie Olivia Miles was nervous and asked Clark what to expect. But Clark didn’t have an answer.

“I’m like, ‘To be honest, I’m kind of in the same boat as you.’ Like I didn’t play last year and then obviously, year before was way different,” Clark added.

“I think it was just really fun. Obviously, it was a great celebration of the WNBA and 30 years and what we’ve been able to accomplish. And this crowd tonight was obviously incredible and able to set an attendance record. And anytime you get to play in the United Center, that’s really fun too.”

And two years after being snubbed from Team USA, Clark was coached by Cheryl Reeve.

Clark had Fever teammate Aliyah Boston on her squad, too, though Boston only played one segment — just five minutes — so she could be rested and ready for the second half of the season.

Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell was on Team Cooper.

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CHICAGO — The Indiana Fever are the it team in the WNBA, but they did not have any participants in All-Star Friday night.

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Caitlin Clark is adding another first to her growing résumé.

The Indiana Fever star and face of the WNBA will be featured on the cover of the upcoming NBA 2K27 video game.

Clark becomes the first WNBA player featured on her own global premium cover.

“Being on the cover of NBA 2K27 is special because this game reaches fans all over the world,” Clark said in a statement.

“To be the first WNBA player on her own global cover means women’s basketball gets to show up on that stage too, and I am proud to be part of that.”

(Take now how Clark always seems to say the right thing, and never misses an opportunity to elevate the game and the league.)

The company announced on Wednesday that Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs is the cover athlete for the Standard Edition, while Clark will headline the Deluxe Edition and Derrick Rose the Ultra Edition.

“Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose each come from different worlds, but they share the same obsession that has altered the trajectory of the game," said Zak Armitage, SVP & GM of NBA 2K.

"Wembanyama has broken the mold for what a big man can be and keeps breaking it. Clark is pulling up from the logo, not just redefining what range looks like, but the women's game entirely. And Rose changed what it meant to be a point guard - explosive, physical, unstoppable - and when faced with setbacks, his hunger for the game is what brought him back. None of them have an off switch, and that same relentless drive is what defines NBA 2K27.”

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And here’s what Clark looks like in the game:

NBA 2K27 is available now for pre-order.

The Standard Edition will be released Sept. 4 for $69.99. Clark’s Deluxe Edition costs $99.99 and includes early access beginning Aug. 28.

Here’s what is included in the Deluxe Edition:

• Deluxe Edition - $99.99: Headlined by Caitlin Clark and available on PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC. This edition includes 100,000 VC****; MyCAREER content (25x 6 Types of Skill Boosts, 25x 3 Types of Gatorade Boosts, Victor Wembanyama Jersey, Caitlin Clark Jersey, and a 2HR 2XP Coin (MyCAREER)); and MyTEAM content (Full ‘27: Series 1 Team Selection, Triple Threat Park Free Agent Pack, 5x ‘27: Series 1 Packs, and a 2HR 2XP Coin (MyTEAM)). Includes Early Access starting on August 28, 2026, up to one week before worldwide release.*

Add NBA 2K to Clark’s strong list of endorsements, which includes (but is not limited to): Nike, State Farm, Gatorade, Wilson, Panini America, Xfinity, Lilly, and Gainbridge.

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The Indiana Fever will not have a representative competing in the 3-point contest at WNBA All-Star Friday night.

That’s despite Aliyah Boston (46.9%), Sophie Cunningham (43.7%), and Kelsey Mitchell (42.3%) being among the league leaders in 3-point percentage this season and all shooting at least three 3s per game.

All three Fever players are also shooting career-high marks from downtown.

The WNBA announced the list of six competitors on Tuesday afternoon.

1. Bridget Carleton (Portland)

2. Azzi Fudd (Dallas)

3. Natisha Hiedeman (Seattle)

4. Rhyne Howard (Atlanta)

5. Marina Mabrey (Toronto)

6. Janelle Salaün (Golden State)

Of note: Howard and Mabrey rank first and second, respectively, in 3-point attempts per game. Carleton is fourth behind Clark.

According to ESPN, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride declined invitations.

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Asked on Sunday at her youth basketball camp whether she had considered participating, Cunningham said she would welcome the opportunity — but hadn’t heard anything.

“I mean, I don’t make any of those decisions,” she said. “I don’t even know who makes those decisions. Whoever makes them, I would like to know sooner than later if I’m doing that because I have plans to be had.

“But I think it’d be a cool opportunity if I get chosen. But there’s a lot of great shooters in our league that deserve it. And so if I’m one of them, awesome. If I’m not, it’s okay.”

Then, below is her tweet after the announcement was made:

Fever guard Lexie Hull competed in 2025. Clark, Boston, Cunningham, and Makayla Timpson were all courtside to support her

The 3-point contest is the primary attraction to All-Star Friday night, which will be held at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The night will also include the Shooting Stars, and those participants will be announced in the coming days.

The league would naturally want Clark and Ionescu involved, but they reportedly elected not to. Instead, they may be prioritizing rest and their health.

One of Clark’s primary sponsors, State Farm, is the title partner of the 3-point contest and they are introducing a new promotion during the contest: Two ball pedestals will be positioned at deep shot locations for “from the logo” shots. Those shots are worth three points rather than the one for every normal made 3.

The two-round event will feature racks at five locations around the arc, including one all-money-ball rack selected by each participant. Regular balls are worth one point, while money balls are worth two.

The two players with the highest first-round scores advance to the championship round.

The league hopefully has more planned for Friday night. The event is enjoyable but traditionally brief, and this year’s program currently includes only the Shooting Stars and 3-point contest.

Last year in Indianapolis, New York swept the two competitions: Natasha Cloud won the skills challenge, while Ionescu won the 3-point shootout. But she will not defend her 2025 title.

Note: Former Pacers PA Announcer Tim Sinclair, who has been with the Bulls since 2020, will serve as the voice inside Wintrust Arena for All-Star Friday night.

More $ For Participants

This will be the first All-Star weekend under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was ratified this past spring.

Here’s what each participant will receive:

• All-Star game: $15,000

• All-Star MVP: $20,000

• 3-point contest: $10,000

• 3-point contest winner: $20,000

• Skills challenge: $7,500

• Skills challenge winner: $12,500

It’s the slowest sports week of the year, and Caitlin Clark is once again giving sports fans something to talk about.

Earlier in the week, ESPN held its annual ESPY Awards in New York City. Clark was not a finalist for Best WNBA Player after winning the award last year because injuries limited her to 13 games last season.

She was recently named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for June. Then, on Friday, she delivered her latest jaw-dropping performance in a 110-107 Indiana Fever win over the Seattle Storm.

Just two days earlier, Clark was held to 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting. She made just 1 of 8 attempts from beyond the arc, and the Fever lost to the Golden State Valkyries by 13.

Clark knew this game would be different. She puts in the work daily — on her mind, her body and her game.

When there is alignment, as she felt before tipoff Friday night, good luck to the opposing team.

“I feel like some nights you have it,” she told reporters postgame. “And even before the ball tips, and I felt like it was gonna be one of those for me, obviously. Struggled a little bit getting back into the groove after missing a couple weeks. So I thought this was a good opportunity for me to come out and be aggressive early.”

Clark has experienced plenty of newness over the last year: injuries, being unable to help the team on the court, the isolation that comes with rehabilitation and now following the medical team’s guidance as it strategically manages her workload during this ramp-up.

“Again, I know it’s a boring answer, but the truth is, the reality is that it’s their long term health and wellness is the priority and it always will be,” head coach Stephanie White said pregame.

We know she doesn’t like a minutes restriction; she’d rather play the entire game. But she also has a better understanding of her situation and what it will require for her to be available every night.

Through it all, Clark has leaned on her small support group: family, close friends, a mental coach, a physical therapist, plus the Fever’s medical staff and coaches.

“I feel like you just have to believe you’re gonna have those type of nights,” Clark continued. “And you have to visualize having those type of nights. And I feel like that’s what I did.

“And it’s not always gonna go your way. Sometimes there’s gonna be a stretch where the ball’s not going through the rim, and you can’t get discouraged. And I know all the time in the work that I’ve put in, and people believe in me, and more than anything, I believe in myself.

“And you just gotta dig your feet in a little bit. And when it’s not going your way, nobody cares. Find a way to make it better, and find a way to help your team win, and make this team better.”

Clark delivered a performance those in attendance will not soon forget. She’s not just a hooper; she’s an entertainer. And she continues to be a record-breaker.

You break it, you own it.

That’s the slogan from Nike after her record-breaking college career.

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All teams at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas are guaranteed at least five games. For the Pacers, that means waiting until Saturday — three days after their last game — for their final matchup.

The Summer Pacers will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET at Cox Pavilion, the smaller of the two venues on the UNLV campus. The game will air on ESPN.

The team last played Wednesday, a 114-98 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Summer Pacers are 1-3 in Las Vegas entering their final game.

Typically, the fifth game provides the best opportunity for players on the summer roster who have not received much playing time. It gives them a chance to get on the court and produce film they can share with scouts and teams in the United States — and around the world.

Organizations everywhere are working to fill out their rosters for the upcoming season, and these players are looking for their next opportunity.

The Pacers’ summer roster consists of 15 players, including 10 rookies, so this is a new stage for them as well.

The Summer Pelicans, meanwhile, are 2-2. They also last played on Wednesday, a 82-77 loss to the Cavs.

So Pacers-Pelicans is one of seven games scheduled for Saturday. The semifinals will then be held on Sunday, with the Nets facing the Thunder, followed by the Nuggets against the Raptors.

The championship game between the two semifinal winners will tip off at 9 p.m. ET and air on ESPN from Thomas & Mack Center.

Here’s the full slate of games.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse will host four teams in the fifth annual Indy Classic on Saturday, Dec. 19.

Butler will face Georgia Tech for the first time in program history, followed by Purdue against Colorado.

The event is hosted by Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Russ Potts Productions.

“Gainbridge Fieldhouse was built to host the best in basketball, and we’re proud to once again welcome this doubleheader while supporting the Indiana Sports Corp and their mission,” said Mel Raines, President & CEO of PS&E.

“The Indy Classic offers teams and fans a fun, action-packed day, creating memories and highlighting the energy that college basketball brings to downtown Indy.”

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The four participating teams are now set, while tip times, television designations, and ticket information will be announced at a later date.

“The Indy Classic has quickly become one of the nation’s premier early-season college basketball showcases,” said Indiana Sports Corp President Patrick Talty. “We’re excited to welcome Butler, Georgia Tech, Purdue, and Colorado to Indianapolis and continue providing an outstanding experience for student-athletes, coaches, and fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.”

The Fieldhouse is already scheduled to host two Indiana University basketball games this fall:

• v North Carolina (exhibition) on Oct. 18

• v Syracuse on Nov. 9

LAS VEGAS — Aliyah Boston won the tip, opened the game with a floater, and delivered a masterful performance as the Indiana Fever captured a 109-75 wire-to-wire win, their second in eight days against the 2025 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

It was just one week ago, over at nearby T-Mobile Arena, that the Fever held the Aces to a season-low 68 points in a 16-point road win to begin the trip. This time, they ended the trip with their most complete performance of the season — a 34-point crushing blow — in front of a sellout crowd of 10,513 at Michelob Ultra Arena on Sunday evening to end the

And this time, Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson played in a featured matchup that aired nationally on NBC. The reigning Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week both sat out the previous meeting due to injuries.

Clark, who also sat out the game in Phoenix on the second night of a back-to-back, remains on a minutes restriction — about 25 minutes — but says she feels great. The Fever played her in stints of about five and a half minutes, much better than the short bursts in LA. She made her feelings about minutes restrictions clear last year, but her opinion has evolved, and she understands the importance of keeping the bigger picture in mind.

After a rebound from Boston, Clark drained a 3-pointer from 28 feet, and just like that, the Fever led 5-0.

They never trailed.

They took a 59-48 lead into halftime, getting 20 of Kelsey Mitchell’s game-high 27 points before the break. Then the Fever avoided blowing another double-digit lead.

Note: Mitchell has an efficient night in her first return to the arena where her body gave out in Game 5 of the playoff semifinals last fall.

The Aces were playing on a back-to-back, but they had blown out the Mercury by 48 points the night before, and it was a home-to-home back-to-back, which is much easier on their bodies. The Fever still had to play with energy, get stops, and keep pushing the pace.

Las Vegas answered with a 7-0 burst out of the locker room, leading head coach Stephanie White to call a timeout after just 83 seconds. She was fiery in the huddle. The Fever had lost their edge and given up second-chance opportunities.

After the Aces pulled within four, 63-59, the Fever restored order and took over.

Then they cruised to victory.

They used a 23-5 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to regain full control of the game, and the Aces never threatened again.

“I thought our team was tough-minded,” White said postgame. " We withstood that run in the third quarter. We locked down defensively after that. We came into the half, they were shooting almost 52% from the floor. They ended the game with 39%.

“We’re building consistency to these types of efforts. Now, we’re not always gonna shoot the ball the way that we did, but I thought we found the best shot on the floor. And when you do that, your percentages are gonna be higher. So just really proud of this group and how connected we continue to grow into.”

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Their play matched the vision for this team: strong performances from their big three, complemented by a role player stepping up.

In this case, it was Sophie Cunningham. One night after serving as a ring girl at a UFC Fight Night event, the potential Sixth Woman of the Year candidate caught fire from deep. She made 6 of 7 from 3-point range, while the Aces finished 4 of 17. As a team, the Fever were plus-33 from beyond the arc.

“I think that’s what it is to be a pro, is to stay ready,” Cunningham said after her second-highest point total of the season. “When you have megastars on your team, they’re gonna get the majority of the shots, as they should. And so as others, we just gotta be prepared to knock it down when we get the ball.”

Near my media seat, I saw a mother and daughter both wearing a navy t-shirt that read, “Sophie Cunningham Mentality!”

First, though, Boston set the tone inside. She maneuvered smoothly, comfortably, and decisively, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes.

Indiana’s 3s were falling, and at that point, it was pick your poison for the opposing team.

“I think we let our defense spark our offense and then offensively, I mean, we moved the ball, we kept it popping,” said Boston. “I think that’s really just been a focus for us, is just getting the ball reversed, and then it’s gonna find who should shoot it, and I think we did a better job today.”

This is the way.

And to think, Clark didn’t even have one of those massive performances. Of Indiana’s 15 3-pointers, she contributed one. As we know, there’s a lot more where that came from.

The Fever improved to 14-9 on the season, punctuating the four-game road trip with a 3-1 record. Even more, they’ve won four of their last five games.

Sunday’s win over the Aces also marked the start of the second half of the season. They’re not content. White said they would like to be further along in terms of their record, and that their biggest challenge continues to be consistency.

For 40 minutes. From everyone. For the remaining games.

The Fever gave the sellout crowd, along with millions more watching at home, a performance to enjoy. They shot 56% from the field while holding the Aces to 39%. They scored more points in the paint and from beyond the arc. They committed fewer turnovers — just 10 — and still have room for growth.

They have momentum and want to carry it into their next four games leading into All-Star Weekend.

“It’s that defensive intensity, getting stops, letting that fuel our offense,” Boston added. “We wanna play fast, we wanna get the ball up, we wanna get quick 3s and transition. So for us, just make sure we lock in.

“I know we have the Valks next. And so for us, they like to play fast, they like to defend. So once again, making sure that we make them have to guard both sides and not just one.”

Other Notes

• The Fever led 31-22 after 1, getting 10 points early from reserves.

• Myisha Hines-Allen did not play for the first time this season. White said she was dealing with “a family thing.”

• Mitchell has poured in at least 20 points in seven straight games. She ranks third in the league in scoring behind A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum.

• Boston on Mitchell: “I think Kelsey’s awesome. She shows up every single day and she gives us everything she has. And I think just how long she’s been wearing a Fever jersey, I mean, you can see it. She continues to show up every single day. She hoops out of her mind. She is the fastest guard I’ve ever seen in my life. And so for her to continue to do that and make teams guard her, I mean, she deserves a world title.”

• The last line stood out to me, especially. They want her to be part of a championship.

• One day after Fever draft pick Justine Pissott made her WNBA debut, finishing with 19 points (on 7-of-8 shooting) in 10 minutes, she finished with two points in 14 minutes against her former team. The Aces signed her off a Fever development contract.

• Dana Evans made her season debut for the Aces.

• In the stands: Taelon Peter and Jalen Slawson of the Pacers, former Pacer Kendall Brown, several Pacers business executives, Hall of Famers Lisa Leslie and Dawn Staley, Aces owner Mark Davis, Mike Tyson, and UFC President and CEO Dana White.

Pregame Interviews

CARMEL — Braden Smith is truly living out a dream.

He is part of the small percentage of basketball players selected in the NBA Draft — and he also gets to stay home.

The Westfield High School graduate and 2022 Indiana Mr. Basketball hasn’t had to travel far to continue his basketball career. First, he went up to West Lafayette for four years with coach Matt Painter at Purdue University (2022-26).

Then, just two weeks ago, he was selected 38th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. Better yet, the Pacers completed a trade with the Bulls to acquire the selection and keep Smith in Indianapolis.

That’s how much they believed in him and wanted him. And because of the front office’s familiarity with Smith and his game — no team knew him better — the Pacers could feel very comfortable selecting him in the second round.

The trade also allowed the Pacers to move off Kam Jones’ salary and free up a roster spot. Both are critical with the margins so slim right now.

But make no mistake: They wanted Smith. And so did other teams, especially the Lakers and Bucks.

In the days immediately following the draft, Smith got right to work. He was at the Pacers’ practice facility daily for workouts.

“Just getting individual workouts, getting your feet wet, and trying to just get in there with the guys and work out with everybody,” Smith said. “And I think for me, it’s just, it’s a dream to be there. So just trying to soak it up and enjoy it.”

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Smith was eager to get started, and there was no reason to waste time learning his new environment. Tyrese Haliburton was in the gym, too. Who better to learn from during this transition?

“It’s exciting, right?” Haliburton said of Smith’s story. “I keep telling him like, well, this has gotta be a dream come true to be in-state kid, go to state school, to end up on the NBA team. That’s so fire to me. That’s like what dreams are made of. So it’s really cool.

“Obviously, we play the same position, so we spend a lot of time together with position groups and stuff like that. So I look forward to just helping him out as much as I can.”

Three days after becoming a professional, Smith made the short drive to the Aletto Family Sports Center in Carmel. Many Pacers staff members were there to help Haliburton at his fifth annual youth camp — and so was Smith.

It was his first official public appearance as a Pacer and his first opportunity to support a fellow point guard.

Smith wore a gold chain with his number — 3 — on display. He was in a navy camp t-shirt with a caricature of Haliburton on the front. He was also noticeably outfitted in a pair of his teammates’ Puma shoes, the Hali 1s. And he’s continued to wear them during rookie/free-agent camp, which leads into summer league.

Haliburton is a hoop head so he’s constantly watching all levels of basketball. He’s at an AAU tournament right now supporting Team Hali. So even though it was Big Ten basketball, he saw a lot of Smith at Purdue.

“By the time I was a sophomore, I felt like I had perfected the pick-and-roll at the collegiate level. I didn’t feel like anybody,” Haliburton said. “Didn’t matter who was guarding me — going right, going left, whatever pass I needed to make, I could make. And I felt the same way when I watched him play. He can really make any read offensively. He’s very talented in that regard, just being a point guard, knowing how to play the right way. I think that will not be a problem for him in his NBA career.”

As Summer League in Las Vegas is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, their first of at least five games, the most interesting storyline to play out is for the final spots on the roster. (Click here for their schedule and roster)

More specially, the three two-way slots.

Taelon Peter and Ethan Thompson are still under contract for another season. The Pacers issued a qualifying offer to Jalen Slawson for one. Kobe Brown, who was included in the trade with the LA Clippers for Ivica Zubac, signed a two-way deal on Thursday — a nice addition.

Plus, Smith was expecting to sign a two-way.

So right now, there’s five players for three spots.

A two-way deal is a valuable tool for filling spots 16-18 on the roster. It allows a player to spend up to 50 games with the NBA club while earning half of the rookie minimum salary, nearly $700,000. Best of all for the Pacers, a two-way player’s salary does not count against the salary cap.

If the Pacers had kept the No. 5 overall pick, the intrigue surrounding the Summer Pacers would be much different. Summer League is about individuals receiving opportunities — from players to coaches, referees and others — and this year is no different.

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Smith spoke with Fieldhouse Files and the IndyStar at Haliburton’s camp. Read the full Q&A below.

Take us back kind of to draft night. You’re there up in Carmel enjoying it with everyone. What was that experience like for you?

It was awesome. Obviously, it’s a lot going on. But I mean, at the end of the day, it ended up working out and being back home, so it was good.

At what point did you know it was Pacers and not Bulls?

I knew right as the pick was going, so I knew pretty early.

Did you have a good sense going in that they were gonna try to take you?

Yeah, it was between them, Lakers, and Milwaukee. They were all kind of fighting for that. So I was trying to figure out which team of a three, and I knew right as they were on the clock that Pacers was it.

What does this mean to be able to be here? You’re doing this camp and you’re what, ten minutes from home?

Literally, yeah. It’s awesome just to be here and be literally close to home and be around a community I’ve always been around, so it’s awesome.

You’re gonna be coming on a two-way contract. Did you tell them in advance that was something you were willing to do? How do you view that challenge?

It’s always gonna be a challenge for me, especially at this level and every level I’ve been a part of. So nothing’s really new, to be honest. And for me, I think that’s the exciting part, is that you get to go out there, start back at ground zero, and work your way up. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.

I know you guys talked to Tyrese a little bit back last year. What are some of the things you guys talked about, what have you learned from him?

It was more just checking in, saying what’s up, rather than me asking questions. Now that we’re together, we’re on the same team, it’ll probably be more question-based in a practice setting. But for me, I don’t wanna be that guy when we’re out in public, be like, what can you teach me? It’s more just getting to know him and building a connection. So I think that’s what I try to do.

Note: Here was Haliburton on that interaction… “Giving him some flack, because obviously I went to the game, Cyclones. Cooked them last year, and I’m sure they’ll do the same to Purdue this year. So I’m sure we’ll be having some fun conversations with that.”

What do you hope you’re able to get out of Summer League, and kind of get your first taste of the NBA action?

It’s for me, it’s just go out, play loose, and have fun. Everybody says pressure and all that — there’s no pressure for me.

It’s going out and doing what I’ve always done. And obviously, back against the wall a little bit, and obviously a lot of doubt. I mean, it’s just everything I’ve always ever dealt with. So for me, it’s just go out there and show I belong, and play for an organization that plays the right way. And try to help.

Has there been anything that stands out about your conversations with Rick Carlisle, and leading into even draft night, maybe?

Not really, no. It’s more like building that connection, relationship is the biggest thing. And then we’re not really in the stage of practicing and that stuff yet, so I haven’t really got the chance to.

The Indiana Pacers named Bryce Taylor as head coach for the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League after the departure of Johnny Carpenter.

Carpenter, who joined Rick Carlisle’s staff last August, is leaving to join Taylor Jenkins’ first-year staff with the Milwaukee Bucks. Before Wednesday’s announcement, Carpenter had guided the Pacers’ Summer League team through at least four practices since Friday.

And he spoke with reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “Competition here has been very fun,” Carpenter said. “They try to turn everything competitive.”

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Caitlin Clark planned to practice Tuesday, and if all goes well, she expects to return Wednesday when the Indiana Fever visit the Los Angeles Sparks at crypto.com Arena.

“Very hopeful for tomorrow,” Clark told reporters before practice.

Clark hasn’t played in two weeks due to what the team has listed as a back injury. However, because of the Fever having rare downtime, she only missed two games during that stretch; both Fever wins.

The team is 12-8 and on a trip out west for four games over 11 days. After beating the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, which I recapped in a video here, the team made the short flight over to LA.

This rare downtime is appreciated during their 44-game schedule. Having a week between games, primarily because of the Commissioner’s Cup final, allowed for the team to rest and reset. They enjoyed a few off days, a couple intense practices, and other lighter days to keep their skills sharp.

For Clark, she appreciated the time to get healthy. “It feels kind of weird, honestly,” she said of their schedule.

“I thought, obviously, everybody came out and played really well versus Vegas. And this is a long trip for us, 11 days. You have to keep building and finding ways to win. But even for myself, obviously having missed the two games, it feels even longer. I’ve had this really long break, but at the same time, get your body right and then your mind right and get back into it.”

Before the injury, Clark was hitting her stride. She averaged 21.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game in June — leading her to being named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for the second time in her career.

A’ja Wilson won out west, and neither were available for Sunday’s featured game on ESPN.

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Nothing was more surprising than the Celtics moving Jaylen Brown to the 76ers on the first full day of free agency. He had been made available for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Bucks accepted the Heat’s trade package instead.

That left the Celtics in somewhat of an uncomfortable position. But it happens. Players are made available in trades, especially for a significant player, and more often than not, a deal does not come together.

Why were the Celtics so eager to move on from him? It came across as desperate and with a sense of urgency. But … on July 1?

There’s clearly something behind the scenes we don’t know. Yet.

Because they agreed to move him for Paul George’s bloated salary —who is owed about $114 million over the next two seasons — two first-round picks and two second-round picks. The 76ers would have had to attach at least one first-round pick to move on from George — and instead, they got Brown without having to give up Tyrese Maxey or VJ Edgecombe.

There’s something we’re missing.

Nonetheless, the Pacers made their move and added size and scoring on the wing with Kelly Oubre Jr. I called around on Wednesday to learn more about him, and I came away impressed.

“Great, great guy,” one league source said.

Oubre was drafted 15th overall in 2015, four spots behind Myles Turner. He’s made some mistakes, had some things not go his way, had to take a below-market deal previously, and has kept working. He’s matured, settled in, and will provide a boost to the Pacers’ bench. Consider that he was a regular starter for the 76ers last season.

I expect that to be it for the Pacers in free agency. They have a decision to make in the next few weeks before Quenton Jackson’s contract guarantee, and they will need to decide which three players they want on two-way contracts.

But then it’s about having patience — internally and externally. With Tyrese Haliburton in his return to the court. With Ivica Zubac and how he fits in with this team. And with this group as a whole.

The good news is they should all be healthy, rested and refreshed after their season ended in early April. Their brief offseason last year is the opposite now — extended. And I sense a real push and motivation to move past last season. To win and compete again.

The Pacers are leaning into continuity and their belief in this group, with just a few tweaks. Teams in the East, however, are leveling up — with Antetokounmpo finally getting the trade he wanted and Kawhi Leonard returning to Toronto — and it’s unclear what Detroit and Boston will look like.

Plus, LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent, so everyone is watching closely.

Patience is necessary, sure. But the Pacers must be all in. On right now and for at least the next two years. Nothing can be taken for granted in the NBA, and the only constant lately is a new champion — now in eight consecutive years.

With that, there’s plenty to catch you up on in my latest notebook.

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The move pushes the Pacers into the luxury tax and close to the first apron, so a patient approach makes sense. But that patience comes with pressure — especially as the Eastern Conference changes around them, with Giannis Antetokounmpo headed to Miami, Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, and Jaylen Brown going to Philadelphia.

Among the items discussed on this episode:

• Priority entering free agency — adding a wing with size, scoring and the ability to help the bench unit.

• Why Kelly Oubre Jr. made sense for Indiana, and what he can provide after spending the past three seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers.

• How the financial limitations shaped what they could realistically do in free agency.

• What it means to be into the luxury tax and close to the first apron — and why the tax costs money, but the apron costs flexibility.

• Why patience makes sense for the front office, especially with this roster still needing time together.

• The importance of Tyrese Haliburton returning, and why Ivica Zubac still needs to share the court with Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.

• How major moves around the Eastern Conference add pressure on Indiana to keep improving.

• Whether another move could be coming — and why the Pacers will have more clarity by the end of 2026.

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The Indiana Pacers and free-agent forward Kelly Oubre Jr. reached agreement on a contract, a league source confirmed to Fieldhouse Files.

Shams Charania of ESPN first reported the deal, which is worth nearly $17 million over two years.

A two-year contract aligns Oubre Jr. with a potential championship window the Pacers’ front office is wanting to maximize. Almost half the roster is under contract through the 2027-28 season: Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, Jay Huff, Johnny Furphy, and Quenton Jackson.

The Pacers have several needs entering free agency.

1. Bench scoring, to help replace the consistent production from Bennedict Mathurin.

2. Size and length on the perimeter to help Siakam and Aaron Nesmith defend. Ideally, a two-way wing.

3. And backup center remains unsettled. It’s an area they will continue to explore. Jay Huff’s contract is fully guaranteed and they picked up the team option on Micah Potter’s non-guaranteed contract, but they are not content there.

However, as I wrote in my Pacers free agency preview, the team’s top priority was to sign a wing. And in Oubre Jr., they’re getting a player with size who can score and help the bench unit.

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Hinkle Fieldhouse has hosted high school and college championship games, so why not add the NBA to the mix?

Now it will.

The historic gym, on the campus of Butler University, will host the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 Championship on Friday, Dec. 11. It marks a significant change for the event after Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena hosted the championship game in each of the first three years.

Indianapolis hosted NBA All-Star Weekend in 2024, the NBA Finals in 2025, WNBA All-Star Weekend in 2025, and now will host the NBA Cup title game later this year.

“Hinkle Fieldhouse offers a special setting to capture the excitement and drama of the Emirates NBA Cup Championship,” said Kelly Flatow, NBA Head of Global Events. “Playing the Championship in an iconic basketball environment like this will further establish it as a signature moment on the NBA calendar.”

This move represents a shift in approach for the NBA — toward distinctive stages that honor the sport’s history while connecting with audiences around the world.

Hinkle Fieldhouse, home of the Butler Bulldogs, is located about seven miles north of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Pacers and Fever play. It’s a short, 20-minute drive, so NBA teams will be able to stay at their usual hotels.

“Not a better spot to play the nba cup championship!” tweeted former Butler star Gordon Hayward, who retired from the NBA after the 2023-24 season.

The game will be streamed exclusively on Prime Video. The news was announced Tuesday evening before the start of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship game, which aired on the network.

Given the uniqueness of the arena — including its place in Angelo Pizzo’s hit sports movie “Hoosiers” — expect to see several features showcasing the iconic venue.

The NBA Cup was created under Commissioner Adam Silver in 2023 and modeled after international soccer competitions, which he is fond of. At the end of each NBA season, only one team traditionally celebrates a championship.

Now, the league has another title moment built into the calendar.

And this past season, the New York Knicks won both — defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup Final and then again in the NBA Finals.

For the players, there’s additional bonus money on the line.

And for fans, the tournament helps generate interest earlier in the season, especially while the NFL is still going on.

It’s unclear how easily tickets will be available for locals. Hinkle Fieldhouse has approximately 9,100 seats — about half the attendance figure at T-Mobile Arena. If you are interested, it’s recommended that you fill out this form.

The NBA says there will also be expanded basketball programming across the Butler campus, creating a dynamic atmosphere in the lead-up to tip-off.

This is a one-off, meaningful game made even more special by playing it in one of basketball’s most historic venues. Future sites worth considering include Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium — Silver is a Duke grad — and Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse.

But Hinkle gets the first shot at this new vision, and it’s a fitting choice. For one night in December, the NBA Cup won’t just be about winning a title — it will be about celebrating the game in a place that has long helped define it.

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Previous NBA Cup Champions

• 2025: New York Knicks

• 2024: Milwaukee Bucks

• 2023: Los Angeles Lakers (over Pacers)

The NBA also unveiled the six groups — three in the east and three in the west — for Cup play during the 2026-27 season.

The Indiana Pacers have 13 players under contract as NBA free agency officially gets underway at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. That’s when teams are allowed to communicate with free agents.

In the meantime, teams have been able to negotiate with their own free agents. That’s why you’ve seen reporting on players re-signing with their current team.

For the Pacers, their core is intact and they have 11 players with fully guaranteed contracts for next season. And they made two moves on Monday ahead of free agency.

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One week ago, Kam Jones was reminiscing about his draft night.

The Marquette University product was taken 38th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Pacers, who traded up with the San Antonio Spurs to select him.

One year later, Jones and forward Obi Toppin were at Topgolf in Fishers to hang out with Pacers season-ticket holders on the first night of the 2026 NBA Draft.

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Kelsey Mitchell re-signed with the Indiana Fever in the offseason, but she also became a sneaker free agent.

The three-time WNBA All-Star from Ohio has played for one team since Indiana drafted her in 2018, but now she’s elected to join a new team off the court.

Mitchell signed an endorsement deal with PUMA Basketball, the company announced on Monday. More specifically, with the Hali franchise.

As in Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers All-Star guard who also wears No. 0. His first signature shoe, the Hali 1s, became available about nine months ago. That’s a credit to PUMA because it was less than a year after they signed Haliburton to a signature athlete contract.

Like Haliburton, Mitchell previously wore Nike.

“This partnership felt authentic from the start,” Mitchell said. “PUMA continues to push basketball culture forward in a creative and meaningful way. Being connected to a brand that values self-expression, performance, and community means a lot to me. Seeing the success Tyrese has had with the Hali shoe from day one I’m excited to team up with him and PUMA to trail blaze the Hali franchise into the women’s game.”

Since the start of training camp, Mitchell has worn different colorways of the Hali 1 shoes. She’s worn them in every game, so working toward a deal made sense.

I asked her about being a sneaker free agent back on Fever media day two months ago since she chose to wear a pair of Hali 1s for the hundreds of photos and videos captured.

“I love Tyrese Haliburton as a person, even more as a player,” she said. “I’m just kind of like figuring some things out and trying some things out. But I said, ‘Why not?’

“In the city of Indianapolis, with a guy like Tyrese Haliburton and all of the things he’s done for the Pacers, it was only right to see where I’m at. Puma feels really good today, so shout-out to Tyrese.”

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Mitchell, 30, has appeared in every Fever game this season. She is averaging 21.6 points per game for Indiana (11-8), which ranks third in the WNBA. Last season, she finished fifth in MVP voting.

She’s soon expected to be voted an WNBA All-Star for the fourth consecutive season. And this past offseason, she stayed in the United States and played in Unrivaled.

“Kelsey represents everything we value at PUMA Hoops - confidence, competitiveness, individuality, and a genuine connection to the game,” said Archie McEachern, VP of PUMA Basketball. “Her impact on and off the court continues to grow, and we’re excited to welcome her to the family.”

Haliburton has sat courtside in the same seats for the majority of Fever home games this season. He’s a basketball junkie. He’s close friends with Caitlin Clark, and he immediately connected with Mitchell too.

Haliburton has posted on social media about Mitchell wearing his shoes a few times this season, including a post over the weekend. That caught my attention.

Then on Monday, it was Haliburton who announced the news with a video that featured both of them. It was directed by Sam Snowden and produced by Haliburton’s personal videographer, Zachery Massung.

The caption to the video: “You family now.”

“Kelsey is one of the toughest competitors I know and somebody who has always stayed true to herself,” said Haliburton. “She’s earned everything through hard work and consistency, and I’m excited to see the contribution she will make to the Hali franchise as part of the PUMA family. The game continues to grow because of players like her.”

Mitchell and Haliburton are alike in many ways. They’re guards for Indiana, both wearing No. 0. They love the game, talking ball — and family is everything.

Now Mitchell joins Haliburton in wearing PUMA and helping grow the Hali franchise.