Last Updated: Jan. 16 at 1:30 PM ET
Matchup
Following Indiana's bruising defeat in London, the Pacers (20-19) return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and will have three full days to reacclimate to their timezone and surroundings before their next game.
Indiana will be looking to recapture its momentum that had sustained a five-game winning streak, before falling140-112 to the Nuggets on Thursday. But it won't come easy, as the Pacers square off with another Western Conference foe, the New Orleans Pelicans.
During their London game, nothing seemed to click for Indiana. Defensively, the Pacers were unable to slow the torrent of Nuggets offense, as Denver did damage both in the paint (70 points) and from 3-point range (15-of-32).
"I think that we didn't bring it defensively, we didn't play the same way that we've been playing," Glenn Robinson III said following the loss. "Pressuring teams and having fun on defense. Really getting after it."
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On offense, the Pacers' most dangerous weapons struggled to find a rhythm. Paul George went 2-of-12 from the field, finishing with 10 points, and Myles Turner went 4-of-13, notching nine.
The starting unit, which had been a bright spot for the team during its winning streak, was outgunned by the offense of Nuggets forwards Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, who both surpassed 20 points.
Monday's matchup with New Orleans, which begins at 4:00 PM ET, offers a chance to declare Thursday's game an outlier during an otherwise stretch of good play. The Pelicans (16-25), while playing well of late, have been at the lower rungs of the Western Conference standings for much of the season.
Despite picking up a loss while overseas, the unusual schedule offers a pseudo-All-Star break for Indiana. By the time the Pacers take on the Pelicans, they will have played just one game over an eight day period, giving the team a chance to recharge its legs while the rest of the league grinds on.
Projected Starters
Jeff Teague
Glenn Robinson III
Paul George
Thaddeus Young
Myles Turner
Jrue Holiday
Buddy Hield
Solomon Hill
Dante Cunningham
Anthony Davis
Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Glenn Robinson III, SF - Paul George, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles Turner
Pelicans: PG - Jrue Holiday, SG - Buddy Hield, SF - Solomon Hill, PF - Dante Cunningham, C - Anthony Davis
Injury Report
Pacers: Rodney Stuckey - out (left hamstring strain)
Pelicans: Quincy Pondexter - out (left knee)
Last Meeting
December 15, 2016: Despite holding a lead entering the fourth quarter, the Pacers couldn't hold back the Pelicans, as New Orleans went on to win, 102-95, at the Smoothie King Center.
The Pacers led 90-87 with just under five minutes remaining when the Pelicans rattled off a 6-0 run, highlighted by an emphatic and-1 from Anthony Davis.
"We got to be able to do it on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. "Defense didn't hold. Offense, when we did have open looks, we didn't knock down shots."
Myles Turner had a huge night for Indiana, finishing with 26 points and eight rebounds. Jeff Teague had 21 points, six rebounds and 10 assists.
But it wasn't enough to stop the Pelicans, especially Davis, who finished with 35 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks.
Noteworthy
- Over the offseason, the Pelicans signed former Pacers first-round draft pick Solomon Hill.
- Indiana leads the all-time series between the teams 21-12 and has won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
- The Pelicans have not won in Indiana since January of 2010.
Tickets
The Pacers return home following their London trip for an afternoon showdown with the New Orleans Pelicans. Tipoff is slated for 4:00 PM on Monday, January 16. 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
Above All Hooded Fleece - $25. 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.