When will the Pacers win a game again or at least be
competitive?
https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/prev...rs-jazz-230213
Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game Preview
The Pacers will be well represented at All-Star Weekend in Utah, but before Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard head to Salt Lake City, the Blue & Gold have two more games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
First up, Indiana (25-33) hosts the Jazz (28-30) on Monday night. It is the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Jazz won 139-119 in Utah on Dec. 2.
Jordan Nwora and George Hill, the two players the Pacers acquired at the trade deadline, are expected to be available for the first time on Monday night.
The Pacers are eager to get a closer look at Nwora, a 24-year-old, 6-8 forward in his third season out of the University of Louisville. Nwora has shown promise as a scorer and shooter during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, but had trouble consistently cracking the rotation on a championship-contending team loaded with veterans.
Nwora has a better chance at extended minutes in Indiana, where the Pacers are still searching for answers at power forward. Their best option at that position this season has proven to be 6-5 Aaron Nesmith, who has enjoyed a breakout season, but the Blue & Gold have struggled to rebound when utilizing a small lineup. On paper, Nwora could be a potential answer at the four position.
Pacers fans, meanwhile, are thrilled to have Hill back in Indiana, where he starred from 2011-16 while helping lead his hometown team to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. The Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI alum is 36 now and in the latter stages of his career, but embraced the opportunity to come back to the franchise he grew up rooting for and help mentor its younger players. Hill has plenty of insights gleaned from his 15 NBA seasons that he can share with younger players like Mathurin, Nembhard, and even Haliburton, who -- while already an All-Star -- is still just 22.
The Jazz have an All-Star of their own in Lauri Markkanen. The 7-foot Finnish forward has had a breakout in his new home after being dealt to Utah this summer in the blockbuster deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland. Markkanen is averaging a career-best 24.8 points per game -- over six points higher than his next-best average over his first five NBA seasons. Markkanen is flirting with the elite 50/40/90 Club, currently shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from 3-point range, and 87.4 percent from the free throw line.
Markkanen is Utah's All-Star, but he is far from the only weapon on the Jazz, who have the NBA's third-best offense, averaging 116.8 points per 100 possessions. Jordan Clarkson averages 20.9 points per game and Collin Sexton chips in 14.5 points per contest.
The Jazz are currently just outside of a spot in the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference standings, but are focused more on building for the future around their young core. Utah traded aways three key members of its rotation at the deadline in veteran guard Mike Conley, scoring guard Malik Beasley, and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, acquiring multiple draft picks in return.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Aaron Nesmith, C - Myles Turner
Jazz: G - Collin Sexton, G - Jordan Clarkson, F - Lauri Markkanen, F - Kelly Olynyk, C - Walker Kessler
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton - questionable (left thigh contusion), Myles Turner - questionable (sore lower back)
Jazz: Russell Westbrook - out (not with team)
Last Meeting
Dec. 2, 2022: The Pacers surrendered what was then a season high in points allowed in a 139-119 loss in Utah. The Jazz led 75-59 at halftime and Indiana never seriously threatened the lead in the second half.
“Against a team this skilled and this deep, your defense has to be precise," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. "When we exerted leverage and force on the game, we made them uncomfortable -- but it was too fleeting.”
Seven Pacers reached double figures in the loss. Myles Turner had a team-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting and rookie guard Andrew Nembhard recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists.
Lauri Markkanen led all scorers with 24 points, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range and also pulling down 13 rebounds. Walker Kessler also recorded a double-double off the bench with 20 points and 11 boards, Jordan Clarkson scored 19, and Collin Sexton added 18.
Noteworthy
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers host Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
competitive?
https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/prev...rs-jazz-230213
Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game Preview
The Pacers will be well represented at All-Star Weekend in Utah, but before Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard head to Salt Lake City, the Blue & Gold have two more games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
First up, Indiana (25-33) hosts the Jazz (28-30) on Monday night. It is the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Jazz won 139-119 in Utah on Dec. 2.
Jordan Nwora and George Hill, the two players the Pacers acquired at the trade deadline, are expected to be available for the first time on Monday night.
The Pacers are eager to get a closer look at Nwora, a 24-year-old, 6-8 forward in his third season out of the University of Louisville. Nwora has shown promise as a scorer and shooter during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, but had trouble consistently cracking the rotation on a championship-contending team loaded with veterans.
Nwora has a better chance at extended minutes in Indiana, where the Pacers are still searching for answers at power forward. Their best option at that position this season has proven to be 6-5 Aaron Nesmith, who has enjoyed a breakout season, but the Blue & Gold have struggled to rebound when utilizing a small lineup. On paper, Nwora could be a potential answer at the four position.
Pacers fans, meanwhile, are thrilled to have Hill back in Indiana, where he starred from 2011-16 while helping lead his hometown team to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. The Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI alum is 36 now and in the latter stages of his career, but embraced the opportunity to come back to the franchise he grew up rooting for and help mentor its younger players. Hill has plenty of insights gleaned from his 15 NBA seasons that he can share with younger players like Mathurin, Nembhard, and even Haliburton, who -- while already an All-Star -- is still just 22.
The Jazz have an All-Star of their own in Lauri Markkanen. The 7-foot Finnish forward has had a breakout in his new home after being dealt to Utah this summer in the blockbuster deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland. Markkanen is averaging a career-best 24.8 points per game -- over six points higher than his next-best average over his first five NBA seasons. Markkanen is flirting with the elite 50/40/90 Club, currently shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from 3-point range, and 87.4 percent from the free throw line.
Markkanen is Utah's All-Star, but he is far from the only weapon on the Jazz, who have the NBA's third-best offense, averaging 116.8 points per 100 possessions. Jordan Clarkson averages 20.9 points per game and Collin Sexton chips in 14.5 points per contest.
The Jazz are currently just outside of a spot in the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference standings, but are focused more on building for the future around their young core. Utah traded aways three key members of its rotation at the deadline in veteran guard Mike Conley, scoring guard Malik Beasley, and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, acquiring multiple draft picks in return.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Aaron Nesmith, C - Myles Turner
Jazz: G - Collin Sexton, G - Jordan Clarkson, F - Lauri Markkanen, F - Kelly Olynyk, C - Walker Kessler
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton - questionable (left thigh contusion), Myles Turner - questionable (sore lower back)
Jazz: Russell Westbrook - out (not with team)
Last Meeting
Dec. 2, 2022: The Pacers surrendered what was then a season high in points allowed in a 139-119 loss in Utah. The Jazz led 75-59 at halftime and Indiana never seriously threatened the lead in the second half.
“Against a team this skilled and this deep, your defense has to be precise," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. "When we exerted leverage and force on the game, we made them uncomfortable -- but it was too fleeting.”
Seven Pacers reached double figures in the loss. Myles Turner had a team-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting and rookie guard Andrew Nembhard recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 assists.
Lauri Markkanen led all scorers with 24 points, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range and also pulling down 13 rebounds. Walker Kessler also recorded a double-double off the bench with 20 points and 11 boards, Jordan Clarkson scored 19, and Collin Sexton added 18.
Noteworthy
- With a win on Monday, the Jazz would sweep the season series with Indiana. The Pacers took both games against Utah last season, but the Jazz swept the series in 2020-21.
- Pacers guard Buddy Hield currently leads the NBA with 222 3-point field goals this season. He can break Reggie Miller's franchise record for most threes made in a single season with eight treys on Monday. Miller set the record in 1996-97.
- Though he hasn't played for the franchise for nearly seven years, Hill ranks fifth in franchise history with 476 3-pointers made over his Pacers career.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers host Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
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