Friday, Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game preview
The Indiana Pacers (10-7) are aiming to snap a season streak tie against the Brooklyn Nets (9-10) Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Indiana beat Brooklyn 125-116 on October 29 before falling to the Nets 116-109 on October 31. Both games took place in New York.
The Pacers are coming off a 115-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday that ended a five-game winning streak.
In the loss, the Pacers trailed most of the game after falling 17 points behind in the first quarter.
Pacers center Myles Turner scored 31 points in the game and rookie Bennedict Mathurin added 21 points off the bench.
The Timberwolves big-man tandem of Rudy Gobert (21 points, 16 rebounds) and Karl Anthony-Towns (23 points, 11 rebounds) dominated, as the Pacers were outscored 74-38 in the paint and rebounded 50 -30 in total. .
After a shaky start to the season, the Nets have upped their game in recent weeks, including winning three of their last four games.
On Wednesday, the Nets beat the Toronto Raptors 112-98 with 29 points from Kyrie Irving, 15 points from Royce O’Neale (five 3-pointers) and 14 points and 12 rebounds from Nic Claxton. Former NBA MVP Kevin Durant was held to 12 points.
This season, Irving is averaging 25.5 ppg and 4.2 assists and Durant is averaging 28.8 ppg, 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Brooklyn is averaging 111.3 points per game while giving up 111.8 compared to Indiana’s 116.8 points per game and 114.1 giving up.
Projected starters
Pacers: G-Tyrese Haliburton, G-Buddy Hield, F-Aaron Nesmith, F-Jalen Smith, C-Myles Turner
Nets: G – Ben Simmons, G – Kyrie Irving, F – Kevin Durant, F – Royce O’Neal C – Nic Claxton
injury report
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson – questionable (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard – questionable (left knee bruise), Chris Duarte – out (left ankle sprain), Daniel Theis – out (right knee surgery).
Nets: Seth Curry – out (left ankle injury management), TJ Warren – out (left foot injury recovery), Yuta Watanabe – out (right hamstring strain).
Last meeting
October 31, 2022: Coming off a loss to Indiana two days prior, Durant scored 36 points in Brooklyn’s 116-109 win over the Pacers on Halloween.
The Nets took a 33-18 first quarter lead before the Pacers came back late to tie the game midway through the final frame.
Despite remaining closed on the stretch, including trailing 112-109 with 1:43 remaining, a floater from Irving and free throws from Durant closed the game in the dying seconds.
Chris Duarte led the Pacers with 30 points and Hield added 22.
Two key players did not speak due to injury, as Nesmith did not play for the Pacers and Simmons sat out for the Nets.
Indiana shot 47.3% in the game to Brooklyn’s 53.8%. The Pacers struggled to take care of the ball, turning it over 24 times to the Nets’ 19 giveaways.
Outstanding
- In the first game of the season with the Nets, the Pacers set a franchise record for 3 points made in a game with 23.
- The Pacers are 7-2 in November.
- Mathurin’s career high for points in a game (32) came against the Nets on October 29.
Broadcast information (TV and radio listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (secondary reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (secondary reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers wrap up a four-game homestand on Friday, Nov. 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET when they host Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Find tickets >>