Sunday, March 3 at 7 p.m. ET at Frost Bank Center
Game Overview
After sharing a home-and-away set with New Orleans, the Pacers (34-27) travel 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 won 123-114 Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pelicans took their revenge Friday night in New Orleans by dominating the Blue & Gold from start to finish. a rout 129-102. The Pelicans tied a franchise record with a 48-point first quarter in which they made a stunning 20 of 22 from the field and a perfect 5 of 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 held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the night, extending the lead to 36 points.
One of the Pacers’ bright spots in Friday’s loss was rookie forward Jarace Walker. The eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft was extended to New Orleans and impressed with both his playmaking and defense. Walker stuffed the stat sheet in his 27 minutes, totaling 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.
Even though the Spurs have the worst record in the Western Conference, they still received a lot of attention this season thanks to Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman had one of the most anticipated debuts in league history, but he 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 in 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 has made five shots in four of his last five games.
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 – Julian Champagnie, F – Jeremy Sochan, C – VictoR Wembanyama
Injury report
Pacers: Ben Sheppard – questionable (illness) Doug McDermott – out (right calf strain)
Spurs: Jalen Crutcher – out (G League assignment), Dyson Daniels – out (left knee meniscectomy), EJ Liddell – out (G League assignment)
Last meeting
November 6, 2023: Rick Carlisle earned his 900th career victory in style, as Indiana tied his NBA franchise record for points scored in a game in a 152-111 rout of the Spurs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Blue & Gold lost by 44 points in the first quarter, then went 9 of 12 on 3-pointers in a 42-point second quarter, tying the franchise record for points in a half. time. The lead only increased after halftime, as Carlisle rested all of its starters and emptied its 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, making 7 of 8 from the field and 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Obi Toppin scored 19, while Myles Turner recorded a double-double in just 21 minutes, totaling 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Doug McDermott led San Antonio with 17 points and four assists coming 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, shooting just 3 of 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.
- With a win on Sunday, the Pacers would sweep the series against the Spurs for the second time in the last three years.
- Starting forward Aaron Nesmith returned to the Pacers’ lineup 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 February 8. McDermott signed with the Spurs in 2021 after three seasons in Indiana. He missed the last two games after straining his right calf in the first half of Monday’s game against Toronto.
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 (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, March 7 at 7 p.m. ET. Find tickets >>
