The Pacers managed to flip a 140-110 loss to the Spurs on Thursday into a 136-98 win on Saturday at Accor Arena in Paris.

The win allowed the Pacers to split the two-game series while showcasing the brilliance of their young star, Tyrese Haliburton, who turned in an outstanding performance. Haliburto

The Pacers are back in Indianapolis after their trip to Paris, which head coach Rick Carlisle described as a “once in a lifetime” trip. They went out to Paris to play two basketball games against the Spurs,

The Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs were in the City of Lights for the 2025 NBA Paris Games this month. How did they do?

Myles Turner scored 28 points in two games against the Spurs, but he slowed Victor Wembanyama down in the Pacers' win in Saturday's game.

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle looks up at the screen to watch a replay video Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, during an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. / Grace Smith/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

One person who is very aware of the challenges that Wembanyama presents is Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who recently had high praise for the sophomore superstar ahead of the matchup with the Spurs, per the NBA on X.

If Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is going to remember anything from his Paris trip, it is not the iconic landmarks, but the adrenaline rush he experienced with the police escort to the Accor Arena for an NBA game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

(AP Photo/Doug McSchooler) Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts to a referees call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane ...

On Thursday in Paris, the Indiana Pacers gave Frenchman Victor Wembanyama and his San Antonio Spurs all they could handle... for about one half of their first o

Here's the gist: Paris is not a city where it's easy to drive around. And with this being Fashion Week, the streets are even more jammed than usual. Which is why Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, from his front seat on the team bus to the arena Thursday, may have been hanging on for dear life.

It won't happen, and nobody knows when — or if — Popovich will be back on the Spurs' sideline. Popovich's absence is a glaring one in Paris this week for the pair of NBA matchups between the Pacers and Spurs on Thursday and Saturday; he's back home, recovering from a November stroke.