Monday, March 25 at 10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena
Game Overview
After having their five-game road winning streak interrupted by the Lakers on Sunday night, the Pacers (40-32) will try to start a new streak in the same arena, taking on the Clippers (44-26) at Crypto. com Arena to conclude its 13th and final consecutive season.
Scoring wasn’t an issue Sunday for Indiana, as the Pacers put up 145 points, including a 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 problem for the Blue and Gold, as the Lakers went 38 of 43 (88.4%) from the charity stripe while Indiana was just 9 of 16 (56.2%). ). The Pacers were whistled for 31 fouls compared to 14 for the Lakers.
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The task of defending without fouling will remain a challenge Monday against a Clippers team that features three perennial All-Stars: James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Thanks in large part to that trio, the Clippers entered Sunday ranked fourth in the league in offense, 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 with 17.3 points and 8.5 assists while also shooting 40, 3 percent from beyond the arc.
After starting the season 3-7, the Clippers went 31-8 over their next 39 games to climb to the top of the Western Conference standings. Their play has been a little more inconsistent in recent weeks, as they are just 5-5 in their last 10 games, including a 121-107 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.
Projected starters
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
Injury report
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin – out (labral tear in right shoulder)
Clippers: Norman Powell – questionable (left lower leg bruise), Russell Westbrook – questionable (left hand fracture), PJ Tucker – out (right calf soreness)
Last meeting
December 18, 2023: The Clippers marched 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 of 38 from 3-point range, scoring 37 or more points in all four quarters.
James Harden led all scorers with 35 points and nine assists, went 8 of 11 from 3-point range and put the finishing touches on the victory by making six straight three-pointers in four minutes early in the fourth quarter.
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points in the win on 12-of-18 shooting, Ivica Zubac had 27 points and 16 rebounds and Paul George scored 27 against his former team.
Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with a career-high 34 points coming off the bench, going 12 of 20 from the field, 3 of 7 from 3-point range and 7 of 7 from the free throw line. Isaiah Jackson was the Pacers’ second-leading scorer with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Outstanding
- The Pacers have lost four straight road games against the Clippers. Indiana last beat the Clippers in Los Angeles on April 1, 2018.
- The Pacers have struggled all season playing on the second night of a back-to-back, going 2-10 on Monday.
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has 936 career wins, two wins behind the legendary Red Auerbach for 12th place on the NBA’s all-time list.
Broadcast information (TV and Radio Programs >>)
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)
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 p.m. ET. Find tickets >>
