Indiana Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets Final Score & Over/Under Result — Jan 8, 2026

Indiana outlasted Charlotte 114–112 in a low-scoring second half that sent the game well under the market total of 232.5. The teams combined for 226 points, finishing 6.5 points shy of the over-under line—a result DAGGER called correctly with an UNDER lean pregame.

The opening quarter set an explosive pace, with the teams combining for 63 points. Indiana's Pascal Siakam (30 pts, 14 reb, 3 ast) and Charlotte's LaMelo Ball (33 pts, 3 reb, 8 ast) traded buckets early, but the intensity evaporated as the game wore on. The first half totaled 118 combined points, then the two squads managed just 108 in the second half. Q2 was the most defensive quarter of the night at 55 combined points, followed by Q3's 59. The fourth quarter bottomed out at 49 combined—a sharp deceleration that reflected both defenses tightening and the scoring load shifting to role players.

T.J. McConnell anchored Indiana's bench attack with 23 points and 8 assists, while Aaron Nesmith added 16. Charlotte got 19 from Miles Bridges and 18 from Kon Knueppel (8 reb), but those efforts weren't enough to overtake a Pacers team that had allowed 124 points per game over its last ten and looked determined to reverse that trend. The two-point margin masked a grind: after the explosive opening, neither side broke through.