2021-22 Game Preview

Brendan Rourke

After a tough pair of games against the 76ers, the Pacers (25-56) will attempt to end their season on a high note when they take on the Brooklyn Nets (43-38) Sunday afternoon. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN as Indiana looks to interrupt Brooklyn's current three-game winning streak.

A topsy-turvy season will come to an end for the Pacers after Sunday's bout. But they do have a chance to fiddle with the play-in tournament seeding if they win. The Nets sit in the seventh seed — tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers. If the Pacers steal a win and the Cavs beat Milwaukee, the seedings would flip. If both teams lose, Atlanta and Charlotte have a chance to climb into higher seeds.

Sunday's matinee match will also allow a large audience to see a glimpse into the Pacers' future. Tyrese Haliburton shined once again for Indiana on Saturday, collecting 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He also dished out nine assists. Additionally, Isaiah Jackson played spectacularly against Joel Embiid and tallied 16 points in 30:28.

With the Nets hoping to secure a high play-in seed, they will most likely roll out their star-studded lineup against the Blue & Gold. Kevin Durant (30.1 points, 74. rebounds, 6.2 assists per game) and Kyrie Irving (27.2 points) will provide Haliburton and Oshae Brissett a tough defensive challenge. Seth Curry also has shined for Brooklyn, averaging 42.2 percent from three. He and Buddy Hield (36.6 percent from 3-point range) could go toe-to-toe on Sunday, which would give fans an exciting show during the final day of the NBA regular season.

Pacers: PG - T.J. McConnell, SG - Tyrese Haliburton, SF - Buddy Hield, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Isaiah JacksonNets: PG - Kyrie Irving, SG - Seth Curry, SF - Bruce Brown, PF - Kevin Durant, C - Andre Drummond

Pacers: Goga Bitadze - questionable (sore right foot), Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore lower back), Jalen Smith - questionable (sore left groin), Chris Duarte - out (sore left toe), Nate Hinton - out (health and safety protocols), Ricky Rubio - out (torn left ACL), Myles Turner - out (left foot stress reaction), T.J. Warren – out (left navicular fracture)

Nets: Goran Dragic - out (health and safety protocols), Joe Harris - out (left ankle surgery), Ben Simmons - out (return to competition reconditioning/sore back)

Jan. 5, 2022: When these squads last met, all eyes were on Pacers folk legend Lance Stephenson for his first game back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. And the guard proved he was "born ready" by putting on a show for the fans. The 31-year-old dropped 20 points in the first quarter en route to setting a new Pacers career-high 30 points. The start gave Indiana a 19-point edge over the heavily-favored Nets early in the contest.

Unfortunately, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving proved why they rank among the top NBA players of this era. The trio helped Brooklyn rally in the second half and pull away late for a 129-121 victory.

But Stephenson provided every Pacer fan with extreme joy despite the loss. The now 10-year NBA veteran brought new life into a Pacers team that desperately needed it. He checked into the game with 6:23 left in the first quarter, a standing ovation behind him, and never looked back. He pulled up and drilled a 3-pointer at the 5:11 mark to start his scoring spree.

He secured the Pacers' franchise record for scoring in the first quarter, finishing the stanza 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from deep. It helped earn a 73-60 halftime lead for Indiana.

But Brooklyn closed the gap in the third quarter to single digits. In the fourth quarter, Irving capped an eventual 25-5 run with a pair of jumpers. Brooklyn led 111-106. Indiana cut the gap to three with 3:54 remaining on a Domantas Sabonis triple. Unfortunately, they never came closer than that again for the game. Sabonis finished with a team-high 32 points for the Blue & Gold.

Interested in tickets for the 2022-23 Pacers season? Sign up today to learn about season ticket plans for next year. 2022-23 Season Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn  Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
ESPN - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Jeff Van Gundy (analyst)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Nets

Wheat Hotchkiss

The Pacers (25-55) will wrap up the 2021-22 campaign over the weekend with a pair of road games, beginning on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.

Having lost eight straight games, the Blue & Gold will use the last weekend of the season to continue developing their young players and trying to build momentum heading into the offseason. That's been the real focus over the last two months as injuries have ravaged the roster, but a positive to that has been that several young players have had increased opportunities.

Two of those players were rewarded on Thursday, as the team converted rookies Terry Taylor and Duane Washington Jr. to full NBA contracts. Taylor, a 6-5 forward out of Austin Peay, has proven to be a monster on the glass when given the opportunity. He's appeared in 31 games with seven starts and averaged 9.6 points and 5.2 rebounds, with over half his boards coming on the offensive glass. Washington, a 6-3 guard out of Ohio State, has given the team a real spark at times offensively, averaging 9.6 points on 36.6 percent 3-point shooting over 46 games (seven starts).

The promotions of Taylor and Washington also created a pair of two-way openings for the remainder of the season, which the team used to reward a pair of players from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Nate Hinton returns to Indiana, where he previously played this season on a COVID-19 hardship contract. The team also signed Gabe York, who will be making his NBA debut if he sees action over the weekend.

York is a 28-year-old guard who was college teammates with T.J. McConnell at Arizona. He went undrafted in 2016 and has played in Italy, Germany, Greece, France, and Israel as well as the G League. York had an excellent season this year for the Mad Ants, averaging 21.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.4 steals. Among players who played at least 20 games in the G League, York ranked first in steals and 11th in scoring.

With two games remaining, the Sixers are nearly locked into their playoff seed and first-round matchup. Unless Philadelphia wins out and either Boston or Milwaukee loses out, the Sixers will be the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, where they would almost assuredly face Toronto in round one. With that outcome appearing very likely, expect the Sixers to handle this weekend's games as a tune-up for the postseason.

Pacers: PG - Tyrese Haliburton, SG - Buddy Hield, SF - Oshae Brissett, PF - Terry Taylor, C - Isaiah Jackson76ers: PG - Tyrese Maxey, SG - James Harden, SF - Matisse Thybulle, PF - Tobias Harris, C - Joel Embiid

Pacers: Goga Bitadze - questionable (sore right foot), Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore lower back), Jalen Smith - questionable (sore left groin), Chris Duarte - questionable (sore left toe), Ricky Rubio - out (torn left ACL), Myles Turner - out (left foot stress reaction), T.J. Warren – out (left navicular fracture)

76ers: Charles Bassey - out (right shoulder pain/G League assignment), Georges Niang - out (left patella tendinopathy), Jaden Springer - out (G League assignment)

April 5, 2022: The Pacers nearly erased a 27-point deficit, coming within four points of taking the lead in the fourth quarter, but came up just short in their final home game of the regular season.

Joel Embiid's 45 points lifted Philadelphia to a 131-122 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and went 8-of-11 from 3-point range for the 76ers, with seven of his threes coming in the visitors' 82-point first half.

Buddy Hield led Indiana with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in the loss. Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points, eight boards, and five assists.

TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn  Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at 76ers

The Pacers hosted the Philadelphia 76ers for their final home game of the season at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Although the Sixers arrived as advertised, this scrappy Blue & Gold squad gave it their all on Fan Appreciation Night. After falling behind by as many as 27, Indiana battled back to come within four points of the lead. However, Joel Embiid and company stopped the comeback short, and the visitors came away with a 131-122 win.

The Sixers (49-30) scored 82 first-half points – 49 in the second quarter – and shot 57.5 percent (23-of-40) from beyond the arc to keep Indiana at bay. Tyrese Maxey (30 points, seven assists) tallied a career-high eight triples, including seven in the first half. But, it was Embiid who appeared the most unstoppable. The MVP candidate dropped 45 points on 18-of-30 shooting and hauled in 13 rebounds to help seal the win.

Meanwhile, seven Pacers (25-55) finished in double figures, with the former Sacramento duo leading the way again. Buddy Hield finished with a double-double, recording a team-high 25 points and 11 boards, and Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points, eight boards, and five assists. Jalen Smith led the bench with 19 points, and Isaiah Jackson posted 16 points and four blocks in a starting role. Additionally, T.J. McConnell finally made his long-awaited return after being sidelined since December with a wrist injury.

“Other than the second quarter, we had a lot of good things happening,” Rick Carlisle said. “Quarters one, three, and four were pretty solid and more aligned with what we wanted to do to these guys.”

For the first time in a while, the Pacers earned the upper hand early in the first quarter. Hield scored five of a 7-0 Indiana run that grabbed a 9-3 lead in the first two minutes of action.

Over the next few minutes, the Pacers continued to play tough. When the Sixers knotted the score at nine, Terry Taylor, Haliburton, and Smith fearlessly attacked the paint to keep Indiana on top. Smith then broke another tie at the 6:44 mark with a long jumper from the left side.

The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair as time ticked down. The Sixers used Embiid to create a 24-20 advantage. But, Indiana swiftly earned back the edge with seven straight. Hield supplied a 26-foot triple at the 3:20 mark to force a Philadelphia timeout.

With 5.2 seconds left, Haliburton pushed the Pacers ahead 31-30 with a driving layup. Unfortunately, Embiid responded with a lucky last-second three that banked in off the backboard.

Haliburton started the second hot, scoring five quick points to tie the game at 36. But, a pair of Shake Milton treys and an alley-oop to DeAndre Jordan gave the Sixers a 44-36 edge with 9:05 remaining.

The Blue & Gold cut the deficit to three with 7:12 remaining. But, Philadelphia responded with an 11-0 spree – eight from Embiid – to stretch its lead to double digits (60-46) with 4:46 to play.

Although Lance Stephenson provided a few buckets for the fans, the Sixers found answers beyond the arc. Maxey knocked in three triples in a 1:16 span to help Philadelphia capture a 71-53 advantage with 3:15 left. Soon after, the second-year guard knocked down his seventh trey at the 2:35 mark to give the Sixers a 74-55 edge. Philadelphia led 82-59 at halftime.

Embiid came out firing early in the third quarter, adding five to help the Sixers earn a 27-point advantage. However, Indiana made a dent in the deficit soon after.

Trailing 90-63, the Blue & Gold mounted a 10-2 run – six from Hield – to cut the gap to 92-73 with 7:20 remaining. The spree forced Sixers coach Doc Rivers to stop play with a timeout.

Despite the break, the Pacers continued their surge. Trailing 97-76, Indiana rattled off eight unanswered points – five from Haliburton – to trim the deficit to 14 with 5:22 left. Rivers had to call a second timeout to slow Indiana’s momentum.

Indiana shaved one more point off its deficit over the next few minutes. However, Philadelphia appeared to find its footing. Embiid, Maxey, and Georges Niang all contributed to pushing the Sixers’ advantage to 107-90 with 1:52 remaining.

Yet, the Pacers kept charging. The hosts blanked Philadelphia for the rest of the frame and scored nine unanswered to trim the margin to 107-99 heading into the final frame. Indiana outscored Philadelphia 40-25 in the frame.

Threes from Duane Washington Jr. and Smith helped Indiana cut Philadelphia’s lead down to 111-105 with 9:40 left. From there, Washington stayed hot. After a Flagrant-2 foul sent Jordan to the locker room, Washington tacked on a pair of free throws to cut the gap to five. When Milton responded, the sharpshooter added a baseline trey to give the game a 113-109 score with 8:53 remaining.

However, Philadelphia abruptly halted the comeback with eight unanswered – four from Embiid – to regain a 121-109 edge with 6:54 left. After Rick Carlisle called a timeout, Maxey hit his eighth triple to make it an 11-0 run.

Indiana tried one more time to pull off the upset. The squad responded with six straight, including an easy alley-oop to Jackson, to trim the deficit to 124-115 with 3:31 to play. They came within nine one more time. But unfortunately, it was too little, too late. Philadelphia closed out the game without much of a problem from there.

Terry Taylor (13 points), Duane Washington Jr. (12), and Lance Stephenson (10) also finished in double digits for the Pacers tonight.

Indiana committed 17 turnovers which turned into 30 points for Philadelphia

The 76ers outscored the Pacers 49-28 in the second quarter. But, Indiana outscored Philadelphia 40-25 in the third.

“Our fans have been great all year. Through an unusual season that changed course a couple of times, they’ve been consistent. They’ve been supportive. This has always been a great place to play if you’re the home team.” – Carlisle on the fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse throughout the season

“Our fans continue to support no matter what. They continue to show up and make it a hard place to play for an opposing team. We can’t thank them enough. It’s been an up-and-down year. But, at the same time, when you see your fanbase show up and support you, it’s incredible.” – McConnell on the fans

“He goes up and down and that’s something I do very well, I think. We’re similar in that way. People continuously leave him open to shoot it, and he makes them pay. I say he’s fast-paced but at the same time, he plays at his own speed. If you leave him open, he’s going to school. He gets downhill and looks for his teammates.” – McConnell on playing with Haliburton for the first time

The Pacers surrendered a season-high 82 points in the first half on 31-of-50 (62 percent) shooting to the 76ers

Interested in tickets for the 2022-23 Pacers season? Sign up today to learn about season ticket plans for next year. Request More Info »

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Game Rewind: Pacers 122, 76ers 131

Hoping to snap a season-long losing streak of seven games, the Pacers host the playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers in their final contest at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this season. Indiana has already picked up a victory over Philadelphia this season back in November.

While Indiana’s season is close to an end, the squad has a chance to make the Eastern Conference Playoff picture even messier when they take on the Sixers. As of Monday morning, Philadelphia is tied with the third-seeded Milwaukee Bucks but resides in fourth due to the NBA's tiebreakers.

Each team underwent significant changes since the last time these two teams met. Blue & Gold fans saw the front office take their team in a younger direction by planning and building for the future. Meanwhile, the Sixers viewed the rest of the season with a “win now” approach. That is what led to the trading of Ben Simmons for James Harden on February 10.

Harden (22.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists per game) has added an element of elite scoring that the Sixers have lacked with other point guards. In fact, before Sunday’s game against the Cavaliers, their starting unit of Matisse Thybule, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Harden had scored a league-best 718 points since February 24. Embiid (44 points) and Harden (21) added 65 more to that total after the Cavaliers game alone.

With an elite center and guard coming to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, this game allows Tyrese Haliburton and Isaiah Jackson to test their skills against some of the best in the game right now. This is especially true for Jackson, who could see his playing time increase with Goga Bitadze still dealing with a sore right foot. Embiid’s seven-foot, 280-pound frame and overall versatility will make Jackson work on every defensive possession. However, while the five-time All-Star may have a size advantage, Pacers fans know Jackson’s raw athleticism and speed occasionally make up for it during games.

Pacers: Goga Bitadze - questionable (sore right foot), Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore lower back), Chris Duarte - questionable (sore left toe), T.J. McConnell - questionable (right wrist ligament surgery), Ricky Rubio - out (torn left ACL), Myles Turner - out (left foot stress reaction), T.J. Warren – out (left navicular fracture)

Nov. 13, 2021:  Showing no signs of fatigue after a four-game Western Conference road trip, the Pacers built a 20 point lead over the 76ers in the first half. When Philadelphia made a charge in the second half, T.J. McConnell and company took care of business to secure a 118-113 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Philadelphia had climbed to within five points of the lead with 2:57 remaining, but McConnell then went to work. He started with a runner after Andre Drummond committed an offensive foul.

Tobias Harris scored for the Sixers on the next possession. But again, McConnell had an answer. He drove left and hit one of his patented baseline jumpers. When Harris failed to respond, McConnell took to the house for his third straight field goal. The run pushed the lead to 10 with 1:16 remaining.

In total, six Pacers scored in double figures. Justin Holiday led the way with a team-high 27 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the floor and 6-of-8 from deep. Myles Turner tallied 20 points and six blocks, and Domantas Sabonis recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Malcolm Brogdon also captured his first triple-double as a Pacer, finishing with 13 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists.

Harris had a game-high 32 points and 11 boards to lead Philadelphia. Tyrese Maxey added 24. All five Sixers scored in double figures, but nobody from their bench scored more than eight points.

In their final home game of the season, the Pacers host the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Fan Appreciation Night presented by Kroger on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

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)

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Game Preview: Pacers vs 76ers

The Pacers’ penultimate home game was a night of celebration. The team honored its Director of Media Relations, David Benner, who is completing his 28th and final season in that role. Highlights included a surprise appearance from Hall-of-Fame NBA player Reggie Miller, who conducted his iconic pregame ritual with Benner one last time.

But unfortunately, the team could not pull out the victory for Benner, as the visiting Detroit Pistons rained in a season-high 21 3-pointers to secure a 121-117 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Six Pacers (25-54) finished with double figures in the effort. Three players tallied 19 points, including Buddy Hield and Isaiah Jackson. The third, Tyrese Haliburton, fell one rebound shy of his first career triple-double. The 22-year old guard also tied a career-high with 17 assists – several to Jackson. Oshae Brissett tallied 20 points – 13 in the third quarter – and 10 rebounds to lead the Blue & Gold. Saddiq Bey recorded 31 points and shot 7-of-9 from deep to lead Detroit (23-56).

“Ty had a tremendous game,” praised Rick Carlisle. “I keep talking to our other guys about getting him the ball in transition. Good things will happen.”

“As far as moving it up the floor quickly and selflessly making the pass up the floor, he’s as good as anybody in the game right now.”

The opening minutes belonged to Bey. The Villanova product stretched the floor by making his first four shots from deep. His third triple with 9:32 to play forced a Pacers timeout. He then sank treys four and five to give the Pistons a 17-7 lead.

“We just have to be better,” Haliburton said of another rough start. “(We need) more of a sense of urgency.”

Trailing 20-9, the Pacers scored five straight, including a nice running slam from Haliburton, to cut the gap to six. But Bey drilled another triple at the 6:43 mark with two defenders in his face.

The Blue & Gold fought through the Pistons’ 3-point barrage to cut the gap to four as Hield and Haliburton knocked in back-to-back buckets in the paint. However, Rodney McGruder and Purdue product Carsen Edwards sank threes number nine and 10 to extend the lead to 36-26.

Bey added a finger-roll layup to reach the 20-point mark with 1:32 left. But luckily, Indiana closed the quarter with five straight to trim the deficit to 38-34.

Scoring slowed dramatically in the second, with both sides earning two points over the first 3:11. The Pacers made it a 40-38 ballgame before Braxton Key scored five straight to extend the Pistons’ lead to seven with 8:02 remaining.

As time ticked past the halfway mark, Indiana remained close behind Detroit. Trailing 49-44, Haliburton and Jalen Smith teamed up to produce the highlight of the half. The guard lobbed a pass to a wide-open Smith, who finished with a slam. The alley-oop cut the gap to three with 5:27 left.

The Pacers finally caught up to the Pacers with 2:32 remaining. Hield found Haliburton in transition with a beautiful bounce pass to knot the score at 57. However, Isaiah Livers countered immediately with Detroit’s 13th 3-pointer of the half.

But, Indiana did not tremble. Trailing 62-61 with 46.2 seconds to go, Washington Jr. grabbed Indiana its first lead with a trey from the left baseline. They held onto a 66-62 lead as the first half closed.

After Jackson started the third with a flush, Detroit mounted an 11-2 run, including three more treys, to earn a 73-70 lead with 9:25 left.

Trailing 79-75 with 7:08 to play, Indiana earned a four-point lead after Brissett tallied eight unanswered, including two triples, in 55 seconds. Then, when Edwards retaliated with a three, Brissett drained a third trey to push Indiana’s lead to 86-82. Haliburton assisted on all three 3-pointers during the spree.

But Detroit came right back. The visitors mounted a 9-0 spree, including 3-pointer number 18, to jump ahead, 91-86, with 2:15 remaining.

Detroit managed to extend its lead to as high as eight down the stretch. A Hield triple with 12.6 seconds to go briefly cut the gap to five. But, Kelly Olynyk ended the frame with two free throws to give Detroit a 98-91 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Blue & Gold failed to trim the deficit over the early moments of the fourth quarter. Haliburton and Jackson attempted to start a run with back-to-back buckets in 34 seconds. But, Key finished a driving flush with 8:29 to play to give the Pistons a 107-98 advantage.

Five points from Jackson helped trim the gap to 109-103 with 6:16 remaining. But, McGruder drained the visitors’ 20th 3-pointer of the night to extend the lead to nine again. A three-point play by Jackson followed by a layup from Key soon pushed the Pistons’ lead to 117-105 with 4:24 to go.

Indiana cut the gap to six after Jackson slammed home an aggressive flush with 2:46 left. However, McGruder connected on 3-pointer number 21 on the next Pistons possession to extend the lead to 120-111.

But, Indiana was not finished. After McGruder’s triple, Haliburton finished a gritty three-point play. Then, with 1:22 left, Hield banked in a driving layup to trim the deficit to 120-116.

Indiana had a chance to come closer with its possession under 30 seconds left. But, Hield misfired on a 3-point attempt, and the ball kicked out of bounds. From there, Detroit closed out the game without another problem.

Terry Taylor finished with 15 points and six boards – four offensive – in a starting role tonight

The Pacers outscored the Pistons in the paint (62-38) and on the fast break (25-17)

Indiana committed 19 turnovers which turned into 23 points for the Pistons

“There’s a real effort on our part, and my part, to get those guys on the floor together. That’s important because of (Tyrese Haliburton’s) vision – the ability to throw lobs. They have a good natural connection there.” – Carlisle on the duo of Haliburton and Jackson

“I’ve said it before. Moving forward, he’s going to grow into one of the best lob threats in the NBA. I’ve never seen a guy with that athleticism...from the minute I got here, he’s a guy that I knew could play above the rim. And I enjoy playing with guys like that.” – Haliburton on Jackson

Tyrese Haliburton became the first player in Pacers NBA franchise history to record 17 assists and zero turnovers in a game. He’s also the only player in the NBA this season with multiple 15+ assists and zero turnover games

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Game Rewind: Pacers 117, Pistons 121

After battling tough against the Celtics, the Pacers (25-53) return home for their final homestand of the season. The first of two games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a bout with their Central Division foes, the Detroit Pistons (22-56). Indiana is looking to even the season series at two games apiece. Both sides have won their respective home games up to this point.

The Pacers are seeking an end to their six-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Pistons are entering this game on a high note, having won consecutive games for just the fourth time this season. Before picking up a 110-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit snagged a 102-94 victory over the playoff-bound Philadelphia 76ers.

Rookie Cade Cunningham (17.6 points, 5.6 assists per game) and second-year forward Saddiq Bey (16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) have been the highlights of the season for Detroit. Cunningham has the talent to become Detroit’s next star, and Bey has been a workhorse for Detroit. The forward has not missed a game all season. On March 17, he posted 51 points against the Orlando Magic to become the youngest player in Pistons history to score 50 points in a game.

Friday’s contest against the Celtics saw a couple of Pacers return to action. The Blue & Gold welcomed Oshae Brissett and Isaiah Jackson back into the mix. The boost in the number of big men helped the squad fight to the wire with one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. Barring setbacks, the duo should see more playing time as they return to full health.

Pacers fans are also hoping for another spectacular performance from Tyrese Haliburton in this game. The 22-year-old guard recorded 30 points on 10-of-11 shooting against Boston before fouling out early in the fourth quarter. Now, he will face the league’s sixth-worst defensive team in terms of defensive rating. Detroit is giving up an average of 113.5 points per 100 possessions.

Pacers: PG - Tyrese Haliburton, SG - Buddy Hield, SF - Justin Anderson, PF - Oshae Brissett, C - Goga BitadzePistons: PG - Cory Joseph, SG - Cade Cunningham, SF - Saddiq Bey, PF - Marvin Bagley III, C - Isaiah Stewart

Pacers: Goga Bitadze - questionable (sore right foot), Malcolm Brogdon - out (sore lower back), Chris Duarte - out (sore left toe), T.J. McConnell - out (right wrist ligament surgery), Ricky Rubio - out (torn left ACL), Myles Turner - out (left foot stress reaction), T.J. Warren – out (left navicular fracture)

Pistons: Cory Joseph - doubtful (left lumber spine; strain), Marvin Bagley III - out (strained left hip), Cade Cunningham - out (sore back), Hamidou Diallo - out (avulsion fracture; left index finger), Luka Garza - out (left ankle sprain, Jerami Grant - out (left calf strain), Chris Smith - out (left ACL surgery)

March 4, 2022: The Pacers battled out of an early deficit to take a late lead against Detroit. However, an all-too-familiar ending played out for the Blue & Gold. With Indiana leading 105-99, the Pistons rattled off a 12-1 run over the final 2:55 to earn a 111-106 victory over the Pacers.

Six Pacers finished in double figures in the effort. Malcolm Brogdon tallied 26 points and five boards to lead the way. Buddy Hield and Duane Washington Jr. added 16 apiece, and Isaiah Jackson finished with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. Jalen Smith also had a double-double while playing off the bench. Saddiq Bey had 25, and Cade Cunningham had 20 to lead Detroit.

The Pistons got off to a fast start, which led to a 39-32 lead after the first quarter. At the beginning of the second, Detroit nailed four treys to help extend the lead to as many as 15. However, Indiana soon closed the gap. The Pacers outscored the Pistons, 27-15, over the last 9:54 of the frame to close the gap to 65-62 at halftime.

Starting at the 7:00 mark in the third, Indiana mounted a 10-0 run to take a 79-78 lead and force a Pistons timeout with 4:43 to play. Tyrese Haliburton induced the timeout with a crowd-silencing triple from the right elbow. Yet, Detroit fought to earn a one-point edge entering the fourth.

Leading 100-99 with 3:16 left, Brogdon hit a three to push the Pacers ahead by four. The squad followed that with an easy transition dunk to stretch the margin to six. However, Cunningham and Bey led the late rally, and Jerami Grant sealed the deal at the free-throw line.

The Pacers tip off their final homestand of the season on Sunday, April 3, when they welcome Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons to Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 5:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Pistons

With five games left in the regular season, the Pacers (25-52) are shipping up to Boston to take on the Celtics (47-30) for the fourth and final time this season. Indiana has not won at TD Center since March 11, 2018.

While Indiana's record is less than stellar, Wednesday's game against the Nuggets proves this team plays with heart. The Pacers rallied from a 31-point deficit to earn a lead. Unfortunately, the Nuggets recovered and earned the win.

Nonetheless, that same heart and hustle will be needed against Boston. Since the All-Star Break, the Celtics have a 13-4 record and are fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. Indiana has a chance to spoil their fun for a bit.

To do so, the Blue & Gold must find ways to slow down the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Together, the pair averages 50.4 points per game for Boston — 45.5 percent of the team's total scoring. Both Tatum and Brown are adept at scoring from all areas and are shooting around 35 percent from deep.

Additionally, the Pacers will have to find ways to generate offense against the Celtics. Boston ranks first in the NBA in defensive rating, limiting opponents to 106.6 points per 100 possession. The squad ranks second in opposing points in the paint (42.3 points per game). The Pacers' bigs have to play physically and finish their looks against Grant Williams, Al Horford, and Daniel Theis.

Indiana will likely need another solid outing from Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. Haliburton appears to have found a nice balance of scoring and assisting. The 22-year-old post posted double-doubles in consecutive contests. Meanwhile, Hield has posted five straight double-figure games, including back-to-back 20-point outings. The sharpshooter has made 14 treys over his past three games. Against the Hawks on March 28, he recorded a 5-for-7 (71.4 percent) performance from deep.

Pacers: PG - Tyrese Haliburton, SG - Buddy Hield, SF - Justin Anderson, PF - Terry Taylor, C - Goga BitadzeCeltics: PG - Marcus Smart, SG - Jaylen Brown, SF - Jayson Tatum, PF - Grant Williams, C - Al Horford

Pacers: Goga Bitadze - questionable (sore right foot), Oshae Brissett - questionable (sore lower back), Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore lower back), Isaiah Jackson - questionable (headache), Chris Duarte - out (sore left toe), T.J. McConnell - out (right wrist ligament surgery), Ricky Rubio - out (torn left ACL), Myles Turner - out (left foot stress reaction), T.J. Warren – out (left navicular fracture)

Celtics: Malik Fitts - out (G League assignment), Sam Hauser - out (G League assignment), Robert Williams III - out (torn left meniscus)

Feb. 27, 2022: The Celtics came into this contest having won 11 of their last 12 and 13 of their past 15 games. However, the Pacers halted that red-hot streak when they rolled into Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Oshae Brissett recorded 27 points, including six 3-pointers. Buddy Hield added 21 — 13 in the fourth quarter — as Indiana steamrolled Boston, 128-107.

Additionally, Tyrese Haliburton and Malcolm Brogdon were spectacular too. Haliburton nearly missed out on a double-double, finishing with 22 points and nine assists, while Brogdon tacked on another 20 in three quarters. The veteran guard sat out the fourth quarter to rest his sore left Achilles.

Brogdon and Haliburton started an early barrage of threes that helped Indiana grab an early lead. The duo knocked in four — two each. The Blue & Gold remained in front for most of the frame until Payton Pritchard sank a pair of triples late.

After a back-and-forth start to the second, Brissett and Chris Duarte began the second brigade of Pacer treys. The duo helped Indiana snag a 56-46 edge with 3:13 left in the first half. Indiana led 66-55 at halftime.

A 12-4 Indiana run helped push the Pacers' advantage to as high as 19 in the third quarter. Boston managed to cut the deficit to seven to keep it close. However, Hield helped in the fourth quarter to put the Celtics away for good.

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Game Preview: Pacers at Celtics

The Pacers (25-51) close out their penultimate homestand of the season on Wednesday, when they welcome Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (45-31) to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

With the season winding down, Indiana has fielded makeshift lineups over the past few games. The Blue & Gold have had just eight available players over their past two contests and just nine in the two games prior to that.

Goga Bitadze (sore foot) returned to the lineup on Monday against Atlanta after a one-game absence and tallied 14 points, his eighth straight game in double figures. But Oshae Brissett, who had averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds over his past five games, was sidelined against the Hawks with a sore back.

Whoever is able to take the court against Denver will have their hands full trying to slow down the Nuggets. Denver is in a tight race in the Western Conference, trying to secure a top-six seed and avoid the Play-In Tournament.

Reigning NBA MVP Jokic has a great chance to repeat as winner of the league's top honors. The 27-year-old Serbian center ranks 10th in the league in scoring (26.3 points per game), second in rebounding (13.6), and eight in assists (8.0).

Pacers: PG - Tyrese Haliburton, SG - Keifer Sykes, SF - Buddy Hield, PF - Justin Anderson, C - Goga BitadzeNuggets: PG - Monte Morris, SG - Will Barton, SF - Aaron Gordon, PF - Jeff Green, C - Clint Capela

Pacers: Goga Bitadze - questionable (sore right foot), Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (rest), Isaiah Jackson - questionable (headache), Duane Washington Jr. - questionable (bruised right hip), Chris Duarte - out (sore left toe), T.J. McConnell - out (right wrist ligament surgery), Ricky Rubio - out (torn left ACL), Myles Turner - out (left foot stress reaction), T.J. Warren – out (left navicular fracture)

Nuggets: JaMychal Green - questionable (right wrist sprain), Vlatko Cancar - out (right foot surgery), Jamal Murray - out (left knee injury recovery), Zeke Nnaji - out (bilateral knee soreness), Michael Porter Jr. - out (lumbar spine surgery)

Nov. 10, 2021: The Pacers dropped a close-fought game in Denver, falling 101-98 to Will Barton and the Nuggets.

With Nikola Jokic serving a one-game suspension, Barton tallied a game-high 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting (6-of-9 from 3-point range), including the game-sealing layup with 27.8 seconds remaining.

"(We couldn't) get that last stop," Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said. "Will Barton had a really good night. And he made a big-time shot."

Malcolm Brogdon led Indiana with 25 points and five assists, while Domantas Sabonis added 20 points and 19 rebounds. McConnell chipped in 16 points and nine assists off the bench..

The Pacers welcome Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 30 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

2021‑22 Game Preview