Friday, October 25th, 2013 at 8:30 PM ET at American Airlines Center
Preseason Game Preview: Pacers at Mavericks
Scott Agness | Updated: October 23, 2013
Matchup
The Indiana Pacers (2-5) conclude their preseason schedule Friday night in Dallas with their second game in 10 days against the Mavericks (4-3). It’s safe to say at this point that both teams are ready to move on to the regular season.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel revealed after practice on Friday that Danny Granger’s calf strain is worse than originally thought and he is unlikely to play Tuesday in the season-opener. The training staff was already holding him out this week and with this setback, as Vogel said, Granger is truly being observed on a day-to-day basis.
Vogel said Granger's injury also solidifies Lance Stephenson's spot in the starting lineup, at least for the foreseeable future. Thus the Pacers will open the 2013-14 season with the same five starters that took Miami to Game 7 of last year’s conference finals.
RELATED: Granger's Status Uncertain »
In Thursday’s practice, the Pacers added a few new sets and wrinkles, including a zone defense. The team’s trip overseas held up the implementation but we may see it briefly in this game.
In this final practice game, Vogel wants his team to tie down their transition defense and continue to improve their offensive execution. He may try Chris Copeland at small forward, to get him some work and determine if that's an option down the road.
The Pacers should get their first look at point guard Jose Calderon in a Mavs uniform. He missed their first meeting in Indianapolis due to a hamstring strain. Other offseason moves for Mark Cuban’s team included the signings of guards Monta Ellis, Devin Harris, Wayne Ellington, Gal Mekel, and posts DeJuan Blair and Samuel Dalembert. In the draft, the Mavs selected Shane Larkin (18) and Ricky Ledo (43).
Probable Starters
George Hill
Lance Stephenson
Paul George
David West
Roy Hibbert
Jose Calderon
Monta Ellis
Shawn Marion
Dirk Nowitzki
Samuel Dalembert
Injury Update
Pacers: Danny Granger (out, strained left calf)
Mavericks: Devin Harris (out, left foot surgery), Shane Larkin (out, fractured right ankle), Brandan Wright (out, fractured left shoulder)
Noteworthy
- The Pacers have won their last three regular season meetings with the Mavericks.
- Pacers assistant coach Popeye Jones played in Dallas from 1993-96, and again in 2002-03. He later worked under Dallas head coaches Avery Johnson and Rick Carlisle from 2006-10.
- Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle was an assistant under now-Pacers president Larry Bird from 1997-2000 and then Indiana's head coach from 2003-2007. His 2003 team won the Central Division, and recorded the most wins that season, 61, which was also a franchise record.
- Pacers center Ian Mahinmi averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Mavericks (2010-12).
- Donald Sloan was born in Shreveport, Louisiana but he played high school ball at Seagoville in Dallas.
Quotable
“I always want to be further along. Two 20-point road wins, I’m happy with that. We just got to keep getting better each day. Obviously, when you’re in October, there’s a million things that need to be sharper.” – Frank Vogel on the team’s progress
“It’s tough to say he’s going to sit out a week of games and practices and then the day before the regular season starts, say he’s good to go. There’s a process of him getting back in there, testing the calf again, make sure it’s strong. So it’s going to be some time.” – Vogel on Granger
“It’s just tough. We’ve been playing against playoff teams to start off our new schemes and we have new teammates. It took a little time for things to gel and guys to know what our personnel does and where they are supposed to be offensively and defensively.”
“We worked on a couple of new things, rotations are getting solidified so I can’t wait for the real deal. This is the last tune-up and then things get series, get real.” – Roy Hibbert
“Having Scola here, he takes his time. That was something that I really needed to bring into my game, just letting things develop. So playing off of him, he’s a great passer from the post position and he really spreads the floor for us.” – Paul George on Luis Scola
Last Meeting
Oct. 16: An undermanned Pacers team, playing their first game back in the U.S. after two games in Asia, lost to Dallas Mavericks at home, 92-85. A brutal third quarter where they missed 15-of-18 shots put them behind by as many as 23 points. With bench players on the floor, the Pacers went on an 18-4 run and later got within three points with 1:38 to play but the Mavericks hung on for the win.
Orlando Johnson scored 10 of his 14 points in the final quarter. Luis Scola also had 14 points and Hilton Armstrong finished with five points and a game-high eight rebounds. The Pacers were outscored in the paint 46-22 and made just 64.1 percent of their foul shots.
Danny Granger started his first game since the 2012 playoffs and Lance Stephenson was the only usual starter in the opening lineup. George Hill, David West and Roy Hibbert sat out for rest purposes, while Paul George missed the game due to bronchitis. The Mavericks were also without a handful of players, including Calderon (left hamstring strain), Devin Harris (left foot surgery), Shane Larkin (fractured right ankle), Brandan Wright (fractured left shoulder), and Vince Carter (rest).
Broadcast Information | Find Local Listings »
TV: None
Radio: FM 107.5 The Fan, Pacers Radio Network - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Michael Grady (studio host)
Next Home Game
The Pacers kick off the NBA's regular season by hosting the Orlando Magic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7:00 PM. A few tickets still remain for Opening Night, but time is running out to be a part of this special event. Buy Opening Night Tickets Now »
