Sunday, March 3 at 7:00 PM ET at Frost Bank Center
Game Preview
After splitting a home-and-home set with New Orleans, the Pacers (34-27) head to San Antonio on Sunday for their second and final meeting of the season with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs (12-48).
After the Pacers prevailed 123-114 on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pelicans got their revenge on Friday night in New Orleans, dominating the Blue & Gold from start to finish in a 129-102 rout. The Pelicans tied a franchise record with a 48-point first quarter in which they went an eye-popping 20-for-22 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range, outscoring Indiana by 22 in the frame. New Orleans got offensive rebounds on both of its misses, meaning the Pacers failed to record a defensive rebound in the quarter.
The Pelicans maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the night, stretching the margin to as many as 36 points.
One bright spot for the Pacers in Friday's loss was rookie forward Jarace Walker. The eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft got extended run in New Orleans and impressed with both his playmaking and his defense. Walker stuffed the stat sheet in his 27 minutes, tallying six points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and three blocks. The Pacers outscored New Orleans by 15 points when Walker was on the floor, the best plus/minus of any player on the team.
While the Spurs have the worst record in the Western Conference, they've still garnered plenty of attention this season thanks to Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman had one of the most anticipated debuts in league history, but he has somehow managed to live up to the hype.
Wembanyama is averaging 20.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals through his first 54 games. He leads the entire NBA in blocks by a significant margin and leads the Spurs in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. He made history earlier this month by recording a triple-double with blocks in a 27-point, 14-rebound, 10-block performance in Toronto. He has blocked at least three shots in seven straight games and swatted five shots in four of his past five contests.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
Spurs: G - Tre Jones, G - Devin Vassell, F - Keldon Johnson, F - Jeremy Sochan, C - VictoR Wembanyama
Injury Report
Pacers: Ben Sheppard - questionable (illness) Doug McDermott - out (right calf strain)
Spurs: Charles Bassey - out (left ACL tear), Julian Champagnie - out (right ankle sprain)
Last Meeting
Nov. 6, 2023: Rick Carlisle got his 900th career win in style, as Indiana tied its NBA franchise record for points scored in a game in a 152-111 rout of the Spurs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Blue & Gold dropped 44 points in the opening frame, then followed that up by going 9-for-12 from 3-point range in a 42-point second quarter, tying the franchise record for points in a half. The lead only grew after halftime, as Carlisle rested all of his starters and emptied his bench in the fourth quarter.
Six Pacers scored in double figures on the night, with Tyrese Haliburton leading the way with 23 points and eight assists in 27 minutes.
Buddy Hield added 19 off the bench, going 7-for-8 from the field and 5-for-6 from 3-point range. Obi Toppin scored 19, while Myles Turner recorded a double-double in just 21 minutes, tallying 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Doug McDermott led San Antonio with 17 points and four assists off the bench, going 4-for-6 from 3-point range. Keldon Johnson added 16 points, while Zach Collins had 14 and five rebounds.
Wembanyama struggled from the field, going just 3-for-12, but still managed to record a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The number one pick in the 2023 NBA Draft also had two blocks and a steal in 21 minutes.
Noteworthy
- With a win on Sunday, the Pacers would sweep the season series with the Spurs for the second time in the last three years.
- Starting forward Aaron Nesmith returned to the Pacers lineup on Friday after missing the previous four games with a sprained ankle.
- The Pacers acquired sharpshooting forward Doug McDermott from San Antonio in a three-team trade on Feb. 8. McDermott signed with the Spurs in 2021 after three seasons in Indiana. He has missed the past two games after straining his right calf in the first half of Monday's game against Toronto.
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 (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>