Monday, Oct. 16 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game Preview
After a competitive intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at FanJam presented by Gainbridge, the Pacers will take the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time this season against another team on Monday, when they host the Atlanta Hawks for a preseason contest.
All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton is expected to make his preseason debut on Monday after sitting out Indiana’s first two exhibitions in Memphis and Houston last week. The Pacers elected to give Haliburton some deserved rest after competing the FIBA World Cup with USA Basketball last month, but he played in the scrimmage at FanJam and appears ready to start ramping up for the regular season.
Second-year guard Andrew Nembhard is unlikely to play on Monday as he works his way back from a kidney stone that prevented him from traveling on Indiana’s road trip. Nembhard is close to returning, but has yet to participate in live action in practice.
The Hawks are a perfect 3-0 on the preseason after sweeping a trio of games last week in Atlanta against the Cavaliers, Grizzlies, and Pelicans.
Atlanta went 41-41 last season, the first for the backcourt pairing of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, who the Hawks acquired in a blockbuster deal with San Antonio in the summer of 2022. The duo combined to average 46.7 points and 16.3 assists last year.
The Hawks doubled down on the pairing by signing Murray to a four-year extension in July. They also traded away power forward John Collins, who had started over 300 games for Atlanta over the last six seasons. Collins’ departure should free up more minutes for players like fourth-year forward Saddiq Bey, who the Hawks acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline last year and shot 40 percent from 3-point range over 25 games with Atlanta.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Bruce Brown, F – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Obi Toppin, C – Myles Turner
Hawks: G – Trae Young, G – Dejounte Murray, F – Bogdan Bogdanovic, F – Onyeka Okongwu, C – Bruno Fernando
Injury Report
Pacers: TBA
Hawks: TBA
Last Meeting
March 25, 2023: Jordan Nwora set a franchise record with 25 points in the second quarter, but the Hawks pulled away in the second half for a 143-140 win over the Pacers in Atlanta.
Nwora finished with a team-high 33 points and seven rebounds, going 12-for-18 from the field, 4-for-7 from 3-point range, and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
The Pacers appeared in great position to come away with a victory when Trae Young was ejected during a timeout with 7:25 remaining in the third quarter and the scored tied at 84. But Atlanta instead was galvanized by the moment, outscoring Indiana 41-23 over the next 12 minutes and never relinquishing the lead again.
Eight Pacers finished in double figures, including Tyrese Haliburton, who collected a double-double with 19 points and 13 assists. But it wasn’t enough to overcome a 143-point outburst from the Hawks, who tallied 76 points in the paint and also went 15-for-30 from 3-point range.
John Collins had a team-high 21 points for Atlanta on 9-of-12 shooting. Dejounte Murray (20 points and 12 assists) and Clint Capela (17 points and 17 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles, while Saddiq Bey tallied 18 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Noteworthy
- After spending the past two seasons as an assistant for the Pacers, Ronald Nored joined Quin Snyder’s staff in Atlanta over the summer.
- Veteran guard Wesley Matthews, who joined the Pacers for the second half of the 2018-19 season, signed with the Hawks in July.
- After having a winning record at home for 31 consecutive seasons from 1989-2020, the Pacers have had a losing record at Gainbridge Fieldhouse each of the past three seasons, a streak they are hoping to snap in 2023-24.
Broadcast Information
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)
Tickets
The Pacers tip off the 2023-24 regular season on Opening Night presented by Kroger against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7:00 PM ET. Secure your seats today.
Originally posted on nba.com