The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Indiana Pacers in an inter-conference showdown Tuesday night from the Paycom Center. The Pacers come in seventh in the East, having picked up a road win last time out. For Oklahoma City, they are in first place in the West and want to keep getting wins to keep that going. The two have split two games in each of the last two seasons, so it will be interesting to see how the opening meeting of 2024 plays out. With a nice slate of games for Tuesday, this one has the potential to be the best.
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Pacers face road woes
Indiana has impressed so far this season and if the season ended today, it would avoid the play-in tournament altogether. One concern is their issues on the road, where they have a losing record at 16-17. The playoffs will likely have them as a road team, so building confidence on the road is key during this final stretch of the season. They’re 2-0 in their last two away games, winning at Orlando and Dallas, but life on the road might catch up with them in this one. This will be their fifth game in six away tries, but with a home game coming up, which features a number of winnable matches, a win in this one would be huge for the momentum.
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The Pacers have some injuries to worry about as they finish the road trip. They’ve already ruled out a pair of Doug McDermott and Bennedict Mathurin, with Mathurin being a big blow given his recent rise. Beyond those two, Jalen Smith (illness) is also a game decision.
Indiana’s offense is ranked among the best in the league in a number of categories and facing one of the best defenses in the league, they will be excited to see what lies ahead. They rank first in field goal percentage and field goals made, as well as sixth in three-point percentage. Their ability to distribute the ball has been key and their second place in assists to turnover ratio also shows how far they have progressed in ball management. Tyrese Haliburton (20.8 ppg) has established himself as a star in the league, while the addition of Pascal Siakam (20.6 ppg) gives them two scorers to lean on. With seven double-digit scorers, the Thunder will have their hands full trying to slow down Indiana in this one.
Thunder Riding winning streak
The Thunder have won three in a row, four of five and eight of the last ten, as they continue to dominate the Western Conference standings. With a 26-6 home record, they have one of the best marks in the NBA, making the Paycom Center one of the best home court advantages in the league. The Western Conference standings have been tight near the top for several months now and every win, especially the chance to get one at home, is critical to success. They’re currently in the middle of a nice stretch of the schedule, with a trio of winnable games coming up. A win in this one would help create the potential for a long winning streak, which is exactly what the Thunder need to ensure they are the top seed in the Western Conference.
Part of Oklahoma City’s success this season has come from its ability to avoid a lengthy injury report, especially as of late. Jalen Williams (ankle) is the only player appearing on the report before this one, as the second-year player is questionable. As the team’s second-leading scorer, he could miss this one.
Against Indiana’s elite and efficient offense, being without Williams (19 points per game) could be problematic, especially if they struggle to get the necessary stops on the defensive end. With the league’s second-ranked offense in making percentage and first in three-point percentage, the Thunder have some offensive grit of their own. Against an Indiana team that ranks at the bottom in almost every defensive category, they shouldn’t have as much trouble getting baskets. The Thunder relies heavily on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 ppg) and with Chet Holmgren (16.9 ppg, 7.8 apg) adding valuable frontcourt minutes, this has become one of the most complete teams in the league , which will cause problems for Indiana.
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The Thunder will dominate this one as they continue their own current winning streak, as well as their dominance at home. The Pacers have struggled on the road, where they have a losing record, and while they have an elite offense, they have yet to see a defense as strong as Oklahoma City’s. Adding in their own defensive woes as well, it’s hard to see them making enough saves without their own scoring slump coming back to haunt them. The Thunder are a well-rounded group and their ability to find efficiency on both ends of the court will end up being the reason they dominate this game. The Thunder have covered the spread in two of the last three meetings between these two, a trend that will continue as their youth continues to grow and gain experience.
Prediction: Thunder
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The defense will lead the way in this one, although both of these teams rank in the top two in the league in a number of offensive efficiency categories. The Thunder pride themselves on their defense and with an elite shot blocker and stingy perimeter guys, this is the perfect matchup to wreak havoc. For Indiana, being without Mathurin will certainly hurt, only putting even more pressure on Haliburton. Add in Indiana’s struggles on the road and it’s easy to predict that the shots won’t be falling their way in this one. The under hit in both meetings between these two last season, while also adding that he was hit in five of the last six for Indiana and four of the last five for Oklahoma City. Fans can expect the trends to be reflected in this one.
Prediction: under
