The Pacers play their first preseason game in front of the Fieldhouse faithful.
The Pacers host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in the first of two home preseason games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this week.
After a full season with major COVID restrictions and limited fan interaction on their homecourt, which was one of many reasons the Pacers had a horrible home record last year, things will me much closer to what we normally expect for a home Pacers game.
This first game back remains a dress rehearsal and for the Pacers that means, the injury list is expanded with Justin Holiday (ankle) and Malcolm Brogdon (shoulder) resting their ailments with an eye toward the regular season.
This is just the third of four preseason games for the Pacers while the Grizz are playing their fifth and final practice game. The question for Memphis is if they will have enough bodies to play since they expect to rest much of their regular rotation which puts 12 players on the injury list. That also means, no local legend sightings of Desmond Bane or Sean McDermott, but that opens some burn for Purdue FW’s John Konchar. NBA Preseason, baby!
Considering those circumstances, the intriguing subplots of this game will revolve around the back half of the Pacers roster and how those players looking for a regular season role look on the court. Also, rookies Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson will always be worth the price of admission at GF, tonight more than ever.
When: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: Bally Sports Indiana
Radio: 93.5 FM/107.5 FM
Projected Starting Lineups:
Pacers: T.J McConnell, Chris Duarte, Jeremy Lamb, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner
Grizzlies: John Konchar, Sam Merrill, Jarrett Culver, Brandon Clarke, Xavier Tillman
Injury update:
IND: Justin Holiday – out (left ankle sprain), Malcolm Brogdon – out (shoulder), Kelan Martin (sore left hamstring), Caris LeVert – out (sore lower back), T.J. Warren – out (left foot stress fracture)
MEM: Killian Tillie – questionable (sore back), Ziaire Williams – questionable (left thigh contusion), De’Anthony Melton – out (rest), Ja Morant – out (rest), Steven Adams – out (rest), Kyle Anderson – out (rest), Desmond Bane – out (rest), Dillon Brooks – out (right thigh soreness), Kris Dunn – out (dental procedure), Jaren Jackson Jr. – out (rest), Tyus Jones – out (rest), Sean McDermott – out (right patellar tendinopathy),
Please leave your thoughts and observations on the game in the comments.