by Jordan Morey
It’s not Deja Vu; it’s Pacers versus Pelicans: Part II.
Playing the same team for a second time in three days, the Indiana Pacers (34-26) will take on the New Orleans (35-25) on Friday at Smoothie King Center.
Indiana, winners of four of their last five games, went up big early and held off multiple New Orleans runs in crunch time in a 123-114 win on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
In the victory, the Pacers led by 14 points in the first quarter before getting outscored by the Pelicans in the second, third, and fourth frames. New Orleans closed within three points in the game’s final three minutes, but the clutch tandem of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam down the stretch put the game away.
Siakam led the Blue and Gold with 24 points and 11 rebounds, Haliburton logged 17 points and 13 assists, and center Myles Turner posted 14 points and 10 boards for a trio of Blue & Gold double-doubles.
Turner drew the tough assignment of guarding former All-Star Zion Williamson, who finished with 23 points for the Pelicans. Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, who went 13-for-13 from the free throw line, led the visitors with 30 points.
A key difference in the first game was the rebounding margin, which the Pacers won 50-40. When the Pacers outrebound their opponent this season, they have a record of 18-5.
The next matchup won’t be any easier for the Blue & Gold, as the Pelicans will have two advantages they didn’t have on Wednesday: their home crowd and a day’s rest between games. The Pelicans, fresh off a road back-to-back, are 22-16 with a day’s rest this season and are 17-12 at home.
New Orleans has been ranked in the top 10 for offense and defense for much of the season, but has largely hung their hat on its stopping power. They are allowing just 112 points per game and were ranked second in steals per game on Wednesday – both numbers the Pacers, the highest-scoring team in the NBA at 124 points per game, bested in the first matchup.
Indiana’s bench, much like it has all season, also proved a major proponent to the first win, as it outscored New Orleans’ second unit by 20 points thanks in part to 16 points from Obi Toppin and 11 by rookie Ben Sheppard.
On Friday, the Pacers could again be without starting forward Aaron Nesmith for a fifth straight game as he recovers from an ankle injury.
With Nesmith out, second-year guard Bennedict Mathurin has played with the starters and thrived, averaging 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
One question mark for the game is how Pelicans starting center Jonas Valanciunas could be used. Valanciunas, averaging 13.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, played only seven minutes and did not score Wednesday. The Pelicans did not provide any injury updates during the game on Valanciunas, so he was presumed to be a healthy sit after starting the game.
After taking on the Pelicans on Friday, the Pacers will go to San Antonio on Sunday and Dallas on Tuesday before hosting the Western Conference first-place Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Pelicans: G – CJ McCollum, G – Herb Jones, F – Trey Murphy III, F – Zion Williamson, C – Jonas Valanciunas
Injury Report
Pacers: TBA
Pelicans: TBA
Last Meeting
Feb. 28, 2024: The Pacers jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first quarter before holding off a late Pelicans push in a 123-114 win on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers never trailed in the game, but after leading 40-26 in the first frame, they were outscored in each of the final three quarters.
After the Pelicans cut their deficit to three points with around three minutes left in the game, Tyrese Haliburton drained a 3-pointer before assisting on three straight baskets to Pascal Siakam to put the game away in crunch time for the Blue and Gold.
Indiana shot 49 percent as a team to New Orleans’ 46.7 percent, which included making 14 3-pointers to the Pelicans’ 11 threes. The Pacers also led the fast-break points differential 21-8 and outrebounded the Pelicans 50-40 (14-4 offensive).
Siakam topped the Pacers with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, and Haliburton finished with 17 points and 13 assists, and Myles Turner put up 14 points and 10 rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin added 16 points each for Indiana.
Brandon Ingram was the high scorer for the Pelicans with 30 points (8-for-20 shooting), which included going 13-for-13 from the free throw line, while Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum each scored 23 points.
With the win, the Pacers snapped a three-game road winning streak by the Pelicans.
Noteworthy
- Indiana and New Orleans have split their season series for three straight seasons. A Pacers win would be their first regular season sweep over the Pelicans since their 2018-2019 campaign.
- Former Indiana University star and Washington, Ind. native Cody Zeller, who is in his 11th NBA season, has played in 37 games for the Pelicans this season. He is averaging 7.9 minutes per game for New Orleans. He did not play on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
- The Pacers are 14-14 on the road this season, including 2-6 at Western Conference arenas. Thirteen of the Pacers’ final 22 games are on the road.
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)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 PM ET.
Originally posted on pacers.com