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Game Preview
After going winless on a three-game road trip, the Pacers (6-10) have an opportunity to bounce back this week during a four-game homestand that begins on Sunday against the Washington Wizards (2-12).
The Blue & Gold are coming off a 129-117 loss on Friday night in Milwaukee in an Emirates NBA Cup game. The Pacers were playing from behind all night against the Bucks, but showed some heart, mounting multiple rallies from significant deficits. Indiana managed to trim what was once a 25-point deficit down to six with under six minutes to play, but ultimately ran out of gas.
"We were up against it a lot of the night in terms of the scoring deficit, but the guys really were together, kept fighting," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We made some great runs, particularly in the second half. It's something to build on as tough as it's been.
"The important thing now is we get home and we keep working on our health. We've got a big week at home."
The Pacers will try to get back in the win column on Sunday against a Wizards team that owns the worst record in the NBA. After starting the year 2-2, Washington has dropped 10 straight games to open the month of November. The Wizards have the league's second-worst offense (105.7 offensive rating) and worst defense (119.1 defensive rating).
Despite his team's struggles, Wizards guard Jordan Poole is having a strong season. The sixth-year guard is averaging 21.2 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game and is shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range on 7.6 attempts per game.
Poole has more support lately as the team around him gets healthier. Former Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon made his season debut on Nov. 17 after missing the first month of the season with a thumb injury. Veteran forward Kyle Kuzma also missed five games earlier this month with a groin strain but is back and has scored 20 or more points in three of his last four games. Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Quenton Jackson, F - Bennedict Mathurin, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Wizards: G - Malcolm Brogdon, G - Jordan Poole, F - Bilal Coulibaly, F - Kyle Kuzma, C - Alex Sarr Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson - out (torn right Achilles tendon), Andrew Nembhard - out (left knee patellofemoral inflammation), Aaron Nesmith - out (left ankle sprain), Ben Sheppard - out (left oblique strain), James Wiseman - out (torn left Achilles tendon).
Wizards: Jordan Poole - questionable (sore left hip flexor), Saddiq Bey - out (left knee ACL surgery), Tristan Vukcevic - out (left knee contusion) Last Meeting
Jan. 10, 2024: The Pacers wrapped up a 4-1 homestand with a 112-104 victory over the Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It was Indiana's first game after All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton sustained a left hamstring strain two days earlier against Boston.
Seven players reached double figures in the victory. Myles Turner led the way with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Bruce Brown stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, nine boards, and six assists, Bennedict Mathurin added 16 points and seven boards off the bench, and Obi Toppin added 15 points and seven rebounds while going 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range.
"You look down the (box score) line -- 15, 18, 16, 16, 14, 12 (points) -- that's how it's supposed to be," Turner said. "One of your guys goes down, the rest of the team has to step up. I think we did a phenomenal job of doing that tonight."
Jordan Poole led all scorers with 28 points to go along with four rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Corey Kispert scored all 15 of his points in the first half, while Kyle Kuzma recorded a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Noteworthy
FanDuel Sports Network - 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 open a four-game homestand when they welcome the Washington Wizards to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 5:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
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Game Preview
After going winless on a three-game road trip, the Pacers (6-10) have an opportunity to bounce back this week during a four-game homestand that begins on Sunday against the Washington Wizards (2-12).
The Blue & Gold are coming off a 129-117 loss on Friday night in Milwaukee in an Emirates NBA Cup game. The Pacers were playing from behind all night against the Bucks, but showed some heart, mounting multiple rallies from significant deficits. Indiana managed to trim what was once a 25-point deficit down to six with under six minutes to play, but ultimately ran out of gas.
"We were up against it a lot of the night in terms of the scoring deficit, but the guys really were together, kept fighting," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We made some great runs, particularly in the second half. It's something to build on as tough as it's been.
"The important thing now is we get home and we keep working on our health. We've got a big week at home."
The Pacers will try to get back in the win column on Sunday against a Wizards team that owns the worst record in the NBA. After starting the year 2-2, Washington has dropped 10 straight games to open the month of November. The Wizards have the league's second-worst offense (105.7 offensive rating) and worst defense (119.1 defensive rating).
Despite his team's struggles, Wizards guard Jordan Poole is having a strong season. The sixth-year guard is averaging 21.2 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game and is shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range on 7.6 attempts per game.
Poole has more support lately as the team around him gets healthier. Former Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon made his season debut on Nov. 17 after missing the first month of the season with a thumb injury. Veteran forward Kyle Kuzma also missed five games earlier this month with a groin strain but is back and has scored 20 or more points in three of his last four games. Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Quenton Jackson, F - Bennedict Mathurin, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Wizards: G - Malcolm Brogdon, G - Jordan Poole, F - Bilal Coulibaly, F - Kyle Kuzma, C - Alex Sarr Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson - out (torn right Achilles tendon), Andrew Nembhard - out (left knee patellofemoral inflammation), Aaron Nesmith - out (left ankle sprain), Ben Sheppard - out (left oblique strain), James Wiseman - out (torn left Achilles tendon).
Wizards: Jordan Poole - questionable (sore left hip flexor), Saddiq Bey - out (left knee ACL surgery), Tristan Vukcevic - out (left knee contusion) Last Meeting
Jan. 10, 2024: The Pacers wrapped up a 4-1 homestand with a 112-104 victory over the Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It was Indiana's first game after All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton sustained a left hamstring strain two days earlier against Boston.
Seven players reached double figures in the victory. Myles Turner led the way with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Bruce Brown stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, nine boards, and six assists, Bennedict Mathurin added 16 points and seven boards off the bench, and Obi Toppin added 15 points and seven rebounds while going 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range.
"You look down the (box score) line -- 15, 18, 16, 16, 14, 12 (points) -- that's how it's supposed to be," Turner said. "One of your guys goes down, the rest of the team has to step up. I think we did a phenomenal job of doing that tonight."
Jordan Poole led all scorers with 28 points to go along with four rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Corey Kispert scored all 15 of his points in the first half, while Kyle Kuzma recorded a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Noteworthy
- The Pacers have won their last three and five of their last six meetings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with Washington.
- Myles Turner, already the franchise leader in blocks, needs four more swats to become the 51st player in NBA history to reach 1,300 career blocks.
- Former Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon is in his first year with the Wizards. Brogdon spent three seasons in Indiana from 2019-22, averaging 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over 146 games for the Blue & Gold.
FanDuel Sports Network - 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 open a four-game homestand when they welcome the Washington Wizards to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 5:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>
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