by Reagan Walsh
Game Preview
Having dropped three straight matchups, the Indiana Pacers will look to find their groove again on Monday night. The Blue and Gold will take to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse floor for a pair of games for the first time since its In-Season Tournament Quarterfinal win over the Celtics on Dec. 4.
The Pacers enter the matchup directly following a 127-109 loss to the 19-5 Minnesota Timberwolves, who currently hold the best record in the Western Conference. The Blue and Gold were without their All-Star guard, Tyrese Haliburton, due to injury, and were led by Bruce Brown’s and Aaron Nesmith’s 17 points apiece. Isaiah Jackson pitched in 12 points off the bench on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting clip, while Myles Turner also contributed 12 points.
Amidst their struggles, the Pacers have found bright spots in the past five games with impressive performances from reserves Mathurin, Jackson, and Nesmith. Mathurin has contributed an average of 14.4 points per game while also posting a season-high 30 points in the win at Detroit Dec. 11. Jackson is averaging 12.4 points per game, boosted by a season-high 20-point and 13-rebound performance on Dec. 15, while Nesmith is averaging 12.0 points per contest on 23-of-48 shooting from the floor also in the past five games.
While Indiana hopes to gain momentum after a tough four-game road trip, the Clippers (15-10) will be riding high as they enter the matchup in the midst of a seven-game win streak.
Los Angeles most recently defeated the 14-11 New York Knicks Saturday night, 144-122, after seven players ended the night in double-figures. The Clippers also shot 56.8 percent (50-of-88) from the floor and 48.5 percent (16-of-33) from beyond the arc.
The Clippers were led in the win by veteran forward Kawhi Leonard, who notched 36 points in the win on 12-of-16 shooting from the floor and 5-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line. Leonard, a two-time NBA champion and five-time All-Star, is leading the team this season averaging 24.0 points per game.
Paul George returned to the court on Saturday after sitting out in Thursday’s matchup to contribute 25 points and seven assists. The former Pacer will enter Gainbridge Fieldhouse averaging 22.7 points and a team-leading 1.8 steals per game this season. Nine-time All-Star James Harden is averaging 16.3 points per contest for the Clippers since being traded to LA on Nov. 1, while center Ivica Zubac is adding a team-leading 9.0 rebounds per game.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Bruce Brown, F – Buddy Hield, F – Obi Toppin, C – Myles Turner
Clippers: G – James Harden, G – Terance Mann, F – Paul George, F – Kawhi Leonard, C – Ivica Zubac
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton – questionable (left knee bruise), Andrew Nembhard – out (right knee bone bruise), Jalen Smith – out (left knee bone bruise/left heel contusion)
Clippers: Bones Hyland – questionable (sore right knee), Moussa Diabate – out (left hip impingement), Mason Plumlee – out (left MCL sprain)
Last Meeting
Dec. 31, 2022: The Indiana Pacers closed out 2022 with a 131-130 win over the Clippers in the most recent matchup between the two teams. With the victory in Indianapolis, the Blue and Gold ended the season series with the Clippers, 1-1.
The win was earned in the fourth quarter with the leadership of Haliburton, who scored 13 of Indiana’s final 15 points. The Pacers had been leading by double-digits throughout the majority of the game, but the Clippers tied it up at 83 at the 4:29 mark in the third quarter to make for an exciting final frame.
Haliburton ended the night with 24 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and four steals. Turner added a team-high 34 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor while also going 10-of-10 from the free throw line. In addition, Hield completed five 3-pointers.
Indiana also overcame a spectacular performance from George, who finished the game with a season-high 45 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. George was followed in the scoring column by Leonard’s 24 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, Morris’ 15 points, and Jackson’s 13 points.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers are 58-38 all-time against the Clippers. The two teams split the series, 1-1, in the 2022-23 season.
- Buddy Hield needs 18 3-pointers to surpass Rashard Lewis (1,787) and take possession of 25th place for most career 3-pointers in NBA history.
- Indiana currently ranks first in the league in five categories: points (127.4 per game), field goal percentage (.504), assists (30.3), points in the paint (60.1), and fast-break points (17.3).
- Clippers forward Paul George spent seven seasons with the Pacers, from 2010-17, where he appeared in 448 games and made the All-Star team four times.
- Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson and Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. played together at the University of Kentucky.
- Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 15th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, but traded to San Antonio for George Hill.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings)
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)
Originally posted on pacers.com