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Game Preview: Pacers at Hornets (Preseason)

Last Updated: Oct. 23, 11:30 a.m.

Matchup

With the start of the regular season now less than a week away, the Pacers have just one more chance to test themselves against external competition: Thursday's preseason finale against the Hornets in Charlotte.

Normally, coaches treat the last preseason game of the season as a kind of dress rehearsal, playing their normal rotation like they would in a regular season game. Pacers head coach Frank Vogel doesn't have that luxury, as his team is suddenly fighting a slew of injuries.

Power forward David West (sprained right ankle) and shooting guard Rodney Stuckey (sprained right foot) have both already been ruled out for Thursday and their status for the regular season opener against Philadelphia on Oct. 29 is uncertain. Backup point guard C.J. Watson missed Tuesday's loss in Minnesota with a sore foot and starter George Hill left the game with a left knee contusion. Watson's injury is not believed to be overly serious and Vogel told the Indy Star that they'll "take it day to day" with Hill, but having three starters and four key rotation players sidelined even briefly is a cause for concern.

On the court, it will be interesting to see how Vogel utilizes his healthy players on Thursday night. Chris Copeland started at small forward on Tuesday (bumping C.J. Miles to shooting guard), but also receives the bulk of the backup power forward minutes behind Luis Scola. That meant more playing time for reserve wings Solomon Hill and Damjan Rudez and a reduced role for reserve big man Lavoy Allen. But Vogel could choose to do something different, like give Allen backup minutes at the "4" and keep Copeland on the wing. He could also opt to start Hill at small forward and bring Copeland off the bench.

Thursday would have marked the first time the Pacers face off against Lance Stephenson, but the Hornets guard will sit out Thursday's game with a right groin strain. Indiana's 2010 second-round draft pick and a two-year starter, Stephenson spurned the Pacers to sign with Charlotte over the summer. Lance will return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Nov. 19.

Projected Starters

Pacers: PG - Donald Sloan, SG - C.J. Miles, SF - Chris Copeland, PF - Luis Scola, C - Roy Hibbert
Hornets: PG - Kemba Walker, SG - Gary Neal, SF - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, PF - Marvin Williams, C - Al Jefferson

Injury Report

Pacers: Paul George - out (rehabilitation, fractured right tibia/fibula), David West - out (sprained right ankle), Rodney Stuckey - out (sprained right foot), C.J. Watson - out (sore foot), George Hill - out (left knee contusion)
Hornets: Lance Stephenson - out (right groin strain), Gerald Henderson - out (right hamstring strain), Marvin Williams - questionable (right elbow contusion), Kemba Walker - questionable (foot)

Last Meeting

March 5, 2014: The Pacers sputtered out of the gate, scoring just eight first-quarter points en route to a 109-87 loss in Charlotte to the team then still known as the Bobcats.

Indiana committed 18 turnovers on the night to Charlotte's seven. Evan Turner led the Blue-and-Gold with 22 points and five assists. George Hill had 17 points in the loss.

Charlotte center Al Jefferson dominated the game, scoring 34 points on 16-of-25 shooting. Kemba Walker added 19 points and nine assists for the victors.

Noteworthy

  • Overall, the Pacers have won 14 of the last 16 regular season games against Charlotte. Indiana leads the overall series 57-35, but trail 20-25 in games played in Charlotte.
  • The Pacers and Hornets will square off four times in the regular season, hosting the Hornets on Nov. 19 and April 3 while visiting Charlotte again on Jan. 17 and Feb. 8.
  • The Hornets' roster features a pair of former Indiana University stars in Cody Zeller (the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft) and Noah Vonleh (the ninth selection in the 2014 Draft).

Broadcast Information

TV: None
Radio: 107.5/1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)