Sunday, Jan. 28 at 3:30 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game Preview
The streak-busting Indiana Pacers will wrap-up a four-game homestand with a Sunday matinee matchup in the Circle City.
Indiana enters Sunday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies (18-27) boasting back-to-back Thursday and Friday night wins over the Philadelphia 76ers (29-14) and Phoenix Suns (26-19) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Sixers were riding a six-game winning streak while the Suns had won seven in a row before hitting the Blue & Gold roadblock.
Memphis beat Indiana 116-103 on Dec. 21, but Sunday’s game will look much different than the first contest, as injuries have decimated the Grizzlies' roster since the start of the new year and the Pacers now have a second All-Star player on their roster in Pascal Siakam.
The Grizzlies have seven players on their injury report who aren't expected to play this weekend, including star guard Ja Morant, who is out for the season with a right shoulder labrum repaired, and starters Desmond Bane (left ankle sprain) and Marcus Smart (right ring finger central slip tear). Memphis is also without big man Steven Adams for the season (right knee PCL surgery) and reserve point guard Derrick Rose (left hamstring strain) for the foreseeable future.
In the first game, Bane and Morant combined to score 51 points for the Grizzlies.
While Indiana’s injury is much shorter, the Pacers have been without All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is dealing with a left hamstring strain, for a four straight games and nine of the last 10. Haliburton, who was named an All-Star starter on Thursday, is being reevaluated this weekend, according to head coach Rick Carlisle, and is listed as out once again for Sunday's game.
The game will feature the highest-scoring team in the NBA in the Pacers (125.0 points per game) and the lowest-scoring team in the Grizzlies (107.8). The Grizzlies also rank near the bottom of the league in rebounding (23rd) and assists (25th), but have the 10th-best defensive rating (113.0).
Indiana enters Sunday’s game coming off a 133-131 Friday night win over Phoenix. Despite the Suns’ Devin Booker dropping a Gainbridge Fieldhouse-record 62 points, the Pacers rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit before coming up clutch in the final moments for the win.
Six players scored in double figures for the Blue & Gold, led by 31 points from Siakam’s 31. Siakam has been sensational since joining the Blue & Gold via trade, averaging 21.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in five games played.
Obi Toppin (23 points, 11 rebounds) – who scored the game-winning basket with 3.4 seconds left on a putback – and Jalen Smith (13 points, 10 rebounds) each posted double-doubles off the bench in the victory over the Suns, Aaron Nesmith had 22 points and seven rebounds, and Andrew Nembhard totaled 22 points and dished out eight assists.
Nembhard has played some of his best basketball of the season recently, finishing with 19 points against Philadelphia and 22 versus Phoenix and dishing out eight assists in both games.
The Grizzlies enter the game coming off a a 107-106 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
Grizzlies power forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. led the charge, posting 30 points and eight rebounds, while Ziaire Williams had 18 points off the bench, and Luke Kennard scored 15. Jackson Jr. has played a more significant role with so many key players out and is averaging 21.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists for the Grizzlies this season.
Surprisingly, Memphis has played better on the road than at home in 2023-2024, posting a record of 13-12 as visitors.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Andrew Nembhard, G - Buddy Hield, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Grizzlies: G - John Konchar, G - Ziaire Williams, F - Vince Williams Jr., F - Santi Almada, C - Jaren Jackson Jr.
Injury Report
Pacers: Jalen Smith - questionable (lower back spasms), Tyrese Haliburton - out (left hamstring strain management)
Grizzlies: Steven Adams - out (right knee PCL surgery), Desmond Bane - out (left ankle sprain), Brandon Clark - out (left Achilles tendon repair), Luke Kennard - out (sore left knee), Jake LaRavia - out (left ankle sprain), Ja Morant - out (right shoulder labral repair), Derrick Rose - out (left hamstring strain), Marcus Smart - out (right ring finger central slip tear)
Last Meeting
Dec. 21, 2023: In Ja Morant’s first game back from a 25-game suspension, the Grizzlies posted a 116-103 over the Pacers at FedExForum.
The Grizzlies led by 23 points at one point in the first half before the Pacers stormed back to make it a one-possession game at intermission. Indiana took the lead in the third quarter, but the Grizzlies outscored the Pacers 58-47 in the second half to secure the win.
Memphis’ Desmond Bane scored a game-high 31 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points and Morant finished with 20 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.
Obi Toppin led the Pacers with 22 points, Tyrese Haliburton posted 17 points and 14 assists, and Myles Turner accounted for 15 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
Memphis shot 51.2 percent in the game to Indiana’s 42.2 percent. The Grizzlies also won the rebounding battle 41-39 and outscored the Pacers 48-32 in the paint.
Noteworthy
- Indiana has dropped five straight games against Memphis.
- When center Myles Turner takes the floor on Sunday, he will tie Don Buse for 13th-most games played as a Pacer (539).
- Indiana second-year guard Andrew Nembhard is two points from reaching 1,000 for his career, and Pacers third-year big man Isaiah Jackson is 14 points away from reaching 1,000 career points.
- The Grizzlies' roster features four players who played high school or college basketball in Indiana: Jackson (La Lumiere/Park Tudor), Bane (dSeton Catholic), John Konchar (Purdue Fort Wayne), and Jake LaRavia (Lawrence Central).
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
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 (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers wrap up a four-game homestand by welcoming Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 3:30 PM ET. Find Tickets >>