Friday, November 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse
game preview
The Indiana Pacers (10-7) look to break a tie-season streak against the Brooklyn Nets (9-10) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday.
Indiana defeated Brooklyn 125-116 on October 29 before losing to the Nets 116-109 on October 31. Both games were played in New York.
The Pacers suffered a 115-101 loss on Wednesday to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were on a five-game winning streak.
In the loss, the Pacers trailed most of the game after falling 17 points in the first quarter.
Pacers center Myles Turner scored 31 points in the game and rookie Bennedict Mathurin added 21 points from the bench.
The Timberwolves’ big-man tandem, consisting of Rudy Gobert (21 points, 16 rebounds) and Karl Anthony-Towns (23 points, 11 rebounds), dominated as the Pacers were outplayed 74-38 in the paint and overall with 50:30 rebounded .
After a shaky start to the season, the Nets have improved their game in recent weeks, 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 points per game and 4.2 assists and Durant is averaging 28.8 points per contest, 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Brooklyn is averaging 111.3 points per game while conceding 111.8 compared to Indiana’s 116.8 points per game and 114.1 points surrendered.
Planned 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 – doubtful (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard – doubtful (bruise left knee), Chris Duarte – out (left ankle sprain), Daniel Theis – out (right knee surgery).
Nets: Seth Curry – out (left ankle injury management), TJ Warren – out (repairing left foot injuries), Yuta Watanabe – out (right Achilles tendon strain).
last meeting
October 31, 2022: After losing to Indiana two days earlier, Durant scored 36 points in a 116-109 Brooklyn win over the Pacers on Halloween.
The Nets took a 33-18 lead early in the first quarter before the Pacers rushed back late to level the game halfway through the last frame.
Although it remained close down the stretch, including a 112-109 deficit with 1:43 remaining, a floater from Irving and free throws from Durant ended the game in the final seconds.
Chris Duarte led the Pacers by 30 points and Hield by 22 points.
Two key players were injured, with Nesmith not playing for the Pacers and Simmons sitting out for the Nets.
Indiana shot 47.3 percent to Brooklyn’s 53.8 percent in the game. The Pacers fought for the ball, turning it 24 times to the Nets’ 19 freebies.
Remarkable
- In the first matchup of the season with the Nets, the Pacers set a franchise record for 3-pointers scored in a game with 23.
- The Pacers have a record of 7-2 in November.
- Mathurin’s career-high points in a game (32) was set against the Nets on October 29.
Program information (TV and radio program >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/anchor)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (side reporter/host)
tickets
The Pacers complete a four-game homestand at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, November 25 when they welcome Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Find tickets >>
