NEW YORK (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton had 24 points, 10 assists and an All-Star Game-worthy dunk as the Indiana Pacers hammered the Brooklyn Nets 136-109 on Sunday night.
The Pacers shot 58% (49 for 85) from the field, including 49% (21 for 43) from 3-point distance.
Click to Gallery
Brooklyn Nets' Nolan Traore, left, defends the ball from Indiana Pacers' Quenton Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Indiana Pacers' Jay Huff (32) goes for a layup against Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Indiana Pacers' Quenton Jackson, left, and Brooklyn Nets' Noah Clowney, right, compete for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) and Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. (17), second from right, compete for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Haliburton shot 8 for 13 from the field, Pascal Siakam added 21 points and Obi Toppin chipped in 16 off the bench.
Reserve guard Nolan Traore had 17 points for Brooklyn, which has lost its first three games of the season.
Indiana trailed by two points at the end of the first quarter before outscoring the Nets 41-30 in the second period to take a 65-56 lead at the break. The Pacers shot 58% from the field and 42% beyond the 3-point line in the first half.
The Pacers continued their good rhythm in the third quarter by blitzing the Nets 37-24 for a 98-74 advantage heading into the final period.
Haliburton, who missed last season while recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon, provided the highlight of the third quarter.
With 7:17 remaining, Julius Randle lost control of the ball at the top of the arc and Aaron Nesmith dove for it before Siakam picked it up and found a wide-open Haliburton, who bounced the ball to himself in front of the free throw line and threw down two-handed dunk that drew the approval of his teammates.
Ivica Zubac was removed from the game after he sprained his left ankle with 4:57 left in the first quarter after he stepped on Kelly Oubre’s foot while chasing down a rebound.
Pacers: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.
Nets: Visit the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
See AP’s full NBA coverage here
Brooklyn Nets' Nolan Traore, left, defends the ball from Indiana Pacers' Quenton Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Indiana Pacers' Jay Huff (32) goes for a layup against Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Indiana Pacers' Quenton Jackson, left, and Brooklyn Nets' Noah Clowney, right, compete for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) and Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. (17), second from right, compete for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
ATLANTA (AP) — A week ago, Atlanta Falcons rookie Kendal Daniels was carted off the field on a stretcher, his body strapped to a backboard, his head engulfed by an ominous-looking brace. No one was thinking about when he might return. The immediate concern was whether he sustained any career-threatening or even life-altering damage.
Which made his performance Sunday even more remarkable.
In a game the Falcons desperately needed to win, Daniels came through with a team-high 11 tackles, made a crucial interception in the fourth quarter and, for good measure, recovered a fumble that finished off a 29-20 win over the previously unbeaten San Francisco 49ers.
“I'm really proud of that kid,” said coach Kevin Stefanski, who rewarded the 23-year-old linebacker with a game ball.
Once he left the hospital and was cleared physically, Daniels faced the inevitable mental challenge of getting back on the field without any lingering doubts or fears holding him back. He knew that his facemask-on-knee collision with Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland could have turned out much worse.
“I've never not walked off the field after an injury,” Daniels said. “So mentally, I had to be prepared. Going back home, I had to make sure I was OK mentally, more than anything, and not playing timid.”
No one would accuse him of timidity against Brock Purdy and the Niners.
Daniels turned up everywhere, making the sort of big plays the Falcons (3-4) needed to pick up their first home win of the season. Especially in the final quarter, when the fourth-round draft pick looked like a budding star with Atlanta clinging to a 26-20 lead.
On third-and-9 from just shy of midfield, Purdy attempted a pass over the middle. Daniels read it all the way, leaping high to deflect the ball into his own hands. With the pick secured, he took off the other way for a 29-yard return that set up Nick Folk's field goal with 1:56 remaining.
“I had missed one earlier in the game,” Daniels said. “I just knew I needed to make a play for my team.”
Daniels wasn't done, either.
The 49ers tried to race down the field for a touchdown or field goal that would've at least given them a shot at an onside kick. But Jessie Bates jarred the ball loose from George Kittle after a long completion, and Daniels, hustling all the way, fell on the fumble at the Falcons 20 with 47 seconds to go.
Bring on the victory formation.
Teammate Maason Smith marveled at how far Daniels had come in the past week.
“I can remember on Monday, he could barely turn his neck to either side,” Smith said. “To see him go through all that, then come back on the following Sunday and have a hell of a game is great to see. I hope to see more of it.”
Daniels conceded that he was still thinking about the injury when he came out for the warmups at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a player alone with his thoughts after a harrowing ordeal.
“I wasn’t scared, but I definitely thought about it,” Daniels said. “I haven’t been in full pads all week. What if I’m not OK? But once I got my first tackle in pregame, I was good.”
He wouldn't get any argument from the 49ers, who lost for the first time this season largely because of four turnovers.
The Falcons can only hope their young linebacker's inspiring recovery signals a long-term turnaround for a long-suffering franchise.
Daniels is certainly looking forward. When fellow rookie linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. was slapping him on the back of his helmet in celebration as the final seconds ticked way, leaving the field the previous Sunday on a stretcher was long forgotten.
“That was the last thing I was worried about,” Daniels said with a grin.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels (53) lies on the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game between the Falcons and the Chicago Bears in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels is taken off the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game between the Falcons and the Chicago Bears in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels (53) returns an interception as San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) and Trent Williams, right, give chase during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels celebrates a defensive stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels (53) returns an interception as San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams, right, makes the stop during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
