Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game Preview
Two streaking teams will take to the hardwood at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Wednesday night.
The Indiana Pacers (10-6) have won five straight games as they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves (9-8), winners of four in a row, to Indianapolis.
In the month of November, the Pacers’ record is almost flawless at 7-1. Overall, the Blue & Gold have won nine of its last 11 games after opening the season 1-4.
Indiana enters the game with a pair of home wins over the Orlando Magic, including a 123-102 victory on Monday.
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In its most recent matchup with the Magic, six Pacers scored in double-digit figures, led by 22 points from rookie Bennedict Mathurin. Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton notched his 10th double-double of the 2022-2023 season with 18 points and 14 assists – despite not playing in the fourth quarter – in the win.
Off the bench, T.J. McConnell secured his first double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 assists while Oshae Brissett scored a season-high 18 points against Orlando.
The win was the largest margin of victory for the Pacers so far this season.
In Minneapolis on Monday, Minnesota climbed back over .500 by eking out a 105-101 win over the Miami Heat.
After trailing 60-47 at halftime, the Timberwolves exploded for 37 points in the third quarter while holding the Heat to 19 before holding on in the final frame.
Timberwolves 6-foot-11 power forward/center Karl Anthony-Towns led the team with 25 points, eight rebounds and nine assists while shooting guard Anthony Edwards collected 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Edwards (22.1 points per game) and Towns (21.3 points per game) have anchored the Timberwolves’ scoring this season.
In the offseason, the Timberwolves traded for three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and 2022 rebounding leader Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz. With the Timberwolves, the 7-foot-1 center is averaging 13.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
During its winning streak, the Timberwolves have also notched victories over Cleveland, Orlando and Philadelphia.
Indiana will conclude its four-game homestand on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. The Pacers went 1-1 in back-to-back games at Brooklyn last month.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Buddy Hield, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Jalen Smith, C - Myles Turner
Timberwolves: G - D’Angelo Russell, G - Anthony Edwards, F - Jaden McDaniels, F - Karl Anthony-Towns, C - Rudy Gobert
Injury Report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson - questionable (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard - questionable (bruised left knee), Chris Duarte - out (left ankle sprain), Daniel Theis - out (sore right knee)
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson - questionable (back spasms), Jordan McLaughlin - questionable (left calf strain)
Last Meeting
Feb. 13, 2022: Behind a 37-point performance by Anthony Edwards, Minnesota defeated Indiana 129-120 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, sweeping the Pacers 2-0 for the season.
Indiana played shorthanded, missing six players due to injury while also losing a player during game action.
The Timberwolves led 37-33 at the end of the first quarter and used a 13-0 scoring spree in the second frame to build a 56-44 lead at halftime.
While the Blue & Gold were able to cut it to 96-94 in the third quarter, the Timberwolves held on down the stretch.
Edwards finished 13-for-25 from the field, including shooting 7-for-13 from 3-point range, to lead the visitors. Next for the Timberwolves was Russell, who scored 23 points, and Anthony-Towns, who finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Haliburton (22 points, 16 assists) and Brissett (22 points, 13 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles in the Pacers loss.
Noteworthy
- On Monday, Halliburton was named Eastern Conference Player of the week – his first time receiving the honor. Haliburton averaged 21 points, 4.3 assists and 11 assists per game while shooting at a 53.2 percent clip as the Pacers beat Charlotte, Houston and Orlando last week. Haliburton is leading the NBA in assists with 10.5 per game and has the most double-doubles for a guard with 10.
- The Pacers’ five straight wins is its longest winning streak since the 2019-2020 season. During that season, the Pacers won five consecutive games three times. The last time the Pacers won six straight was from Dec. 21, 2018, to Jan. 4, 2019.
- Following Monday night’s games, the Pacers owned the second-longest active winning streak in the NBA, behind just Sacramento (six straight).
- Not only is Mathurin leading all rookies in scoring, but he’s also leading all bench players by averaging 19.3 point per game. The Pacers’ bench is the second-highest scoring in the NBA, averaging 43.8 points per game, trailing just the Utah Jazz reserves (45.3 PPG).
- In games where the Pacers have six individual players score in double digits, the team is 7-0.
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 host Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>