Game Preview: Pacers at Clippers

Monday, March 25 at 10:30 PM ET at Crypto.com Arena

After seeing their five-game road winning streak snapped by the Lakers on Sunday night, the Pacers (40-32) will try to start a new streak at the same arena, as they take on the Clippers (44-26) at Crypto.com Arena to conclude their 13th and final back-to-back of the season.

Scoring wasn't an issue on Sunday for Indiana, as the Pacers went for 145 points, including a Pacers career-high 36 from Pascal Siakam. But the Lakers were even better offensively, with four players scoring 25 or more points in a 150-145 victory.

Free throws were a major issue for the Blue & Gold, as the Lakers went 38-for-43 (88.4 percent) from the charity stripe while Indiana was just 9-for-16 (56.2 percent). The Pacers were whistled for 31 fouls to the Lakers' 14.

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The task of defending without fouling will remain a challenge on Monday against a Clippers team that features three perennial All-Stars in James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George.

Thanks in large part to that trio, the Clippers entered Sunday ranking fourth in the league in offensive rating, scoring 118.9 points per 100 possessions, and are also fourth in the league in 3-point percentage (.387).

Leonard leads the way, averaging 23.8 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from 3-point range. George averages 22.5 points and 5.3 rebounds and is a 40.3-percent 3-point shooter, while Harden contributes 17.3 points and 8.5 assists while also shooting 40.3 percent from beyond the arc.

After getting off to a 3-7 start to the season, the Clippers went 31-8 over their next 39 games to surge to the top of the Western Conference standings. Their play has been a little more uneven in recent weeks, as they are just 5-5 over their last 10 games, including a 121-107 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.

Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner

Clippers: G - James Harden, G - Terance Mann, F - Paul George, F - Kawhi Leonard, C - Ivica Zubac

Pacers: Aaron Nesmith - questionable (bruised right knee), Bennedict Mathurin - out (right shoulder labral tear)

Clippers: Russell Westbrook - questionable (left hand fracture), P.J. Tucker - questionable (sore right calf)

Dec. 18, 2023: The Clippers came into Gainbridge Fieldhouse and blew out the Pacers, leading by as many as 33 points en route to a 151-127 victory. The Clippers shot 57.1 percent from the field and went 19-for-38 from 3-point range, scoring 37 points or more in all four quarters.

James Harden led all scorers with 35 points and nine assists, going 8-for-11 from 3-point range and put the finishing touches on the victory by hitting six straight threes over a four-minute stretch early in the fourth quarter.

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points in the win on 12-of-18 shooting, Ivica Zubac tallied 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Paul George scored 27 against his former team.

Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with a career-best 34 points off the bench, going 12-for-20 from the field, 3-for-7 from 3-point range, and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Isaiah Jackson was the Pacers' next-highest scorer with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

TV: Bally Sports Indiana - 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 (studio host)

After a five-game road trip, the Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, March 29 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>