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Game Preview: Pacers vs Grizzlies

Matchup

The Pacers have had time to rest and heal, which was exactly what was needed as they entered the All-Star break having lost six consecutive games.

One of the team's most reliable rebounders and hustle players, Thaddeus Young, had missed the Pacers' eight games heading into the All-Star break with a sprained left wrist. Without Young in the lineup, the Pacers (29-28) won their first two contests, but then entered their February slide, dropping six in a row to a series of challenging opponents.

To make matters worse, the Pacers were also hit by an absence from Lavoy Allen, who had been filling in admirably during Young's absence. Allen's scratch from the lineup against San Antonio on February 13th was a surprise to even Coach Nate McMillan, as a sore knee began to flare up during pregame warmups.

Without Allen and Young, the Pacers have been thin at power forward over the last few games, leaving them even more vulnerable to getting beat on the glass.

But against the Grizzlies (34-24) on Friday, during the team's Hickory game honoring the 1985-1987 Marion Giants (Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is a Marion alum), the Pacers will need a full team effort on the glass. So far, Memphis has maintained its reputation as one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA, collecting 50.7 percent of missed shots (9th in the NBA). For comparison's sake, the Pacers grab 47.8 percent of misses (28th in the NBA).

The game against the Grizzlies is the opening of yet another difficult spate of opponents for the Blue & Gold. Following their meeting with the Griz, the Pacers embark on a five-game road trip in which they will play Miami, Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta, and Charlotte.

Additionally, any space the Pacers had created in the standings with their seven-game winning streak has mostly been erased by their six-game skid. Now the distance between them and the eighth seed is just two games, as Central Division foes Chicago and Detroit continue to nip at Indiana's heels.

With a team full of rested players and hopefully a healed batch of power forwards, the Pacers are looking to start their final stretch of 25 games on the right foot, breaking a losing streak and topping a Memphis team that has bested them in five consecutive regular season meetings.

Projected Starters

Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague

Paul George

Paul George

C.J. Miles

C.J. Miles

Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young

Myles Turner

Myles Turner

Mike Conley

Mike Conley

Tony Allen

Tony Allen

Chandler Parsons

Chandler Parsons

JaMychal Green

JaMychal Green

Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Paul George, SF - C.J. Miles, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Grizzlies: PG - Mike Conley, SG - Tony Allen, SF - Chandler Parsons, PF - JaMychal Green, C - Marc Gasol

Injury Report

Pacers: Thaddeus Young - questionable (sprained left wrist), Lavoy Allen - questionable (sore right knee)

Grizzlies: None

Coors Cold Hard Fact

On Nov. 26, 1999, the Pacers began a 25-game home winning streak that would continue until March 9, 2000. The streak started with a 105-86 win over the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Last Meeting

December 19, 2015: With the Pacers on the three-game winning streak, the Grizzlies halted Indiana's run, defeating the Pacers 96-84 in Memphis.

The Grizzlies held a lead for nearly the entire night and held the Pacers to just 39 percent shooting.

"With a team like (Memphis), they load the paint so well, it’s kind of hard to play in the paint and get easy baskets at the rim," Pacers forward Paul George said after the game.

George led all scorers with 29 points on 8-of-22 shooting, but he also had seven of the Pacers' 17 turnovers. Monta Ellis had 13 points and Stuckey added 11. Jordan Hill recorded his sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds (five on the offensive glass).

For the Grizzlies, Mike Conley led the team with 20 points and eight assists and All-NBA center Marc Gasol was solid all-around, contributing 19 points, 12 boards, and six assists.

Noteworthy

  • Pacers head coach Nate McMillan coached Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph for two seasons in Portland.
  • Al Jefferson and Grizzlies guard Tony Allen were both first-round picks of the Boston Celtics in 2004.
  • The Pacers lead the all-time series 24-16 and are 14-5 when playing in Indiana.
  • With one made 3-pointer, C.J. Miles will tie Mike Dunleavy for eighth on the franchise leaderboard for made 3-point shots (408).
  • The Grizzlies have won five straight games against the Pacers.

Tickets

The Pacers return from the All-Star break rested and ready to face Indianapolis-native Mike Conley and the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at 7 PM ET for a Hickory game showdown. Find Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Home Court Gift Shop Game Night Special

Select Knit Hats - 50% Off. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.

Construction Note: The Delaware St. entrance to the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage is no longer in operation due to the construction of the St. Vincent Center. To enter the Virginia Ave. Parking Garage, please use the entrance located at the intersection of E Maryland St. and S Alabama St.

In addition, the southbound lane of Delaware Street from Maryland to just south of the train bridge will be closed for the duration of the construction project.