Whenever it feels like the wheels are about the fall off of this season, the Pacers have found a way to answer. Often resoundingly. The latest examples were back-to-back wins over Philadelphia and Phoenix after dropping five of the previous six games.

The win over Phoenix was particularly cathartic because it seemingly proved – to the fans, the league, and likely the Pacers themselves – that this is not last year's team. When Tyrese Haliburton went down in January of 2023, the team plummeted in the standings. This year, (counting the game he got injured) the Pacers have won six of 10 without him in the lineup. While two of those wins came against inferior competition, the other four were against Boston, Sacramento on the road, and the aforementioned back-to-back. It was nothing short of a playoff atmosphere in the Fieldhouse on Friday night and the gritty Pacers found a way to win.

Simply put, this team is really good. Whatever happens from here on out, this is a team we'll look back on and think "boy, that was fun."

Memphis

If the '23-'24 Pacers have an achilles heel, they'll face it this afternoon. As good as they've been against the top competition in the league, they've been frustratingly unfocused against teams below them in the standings. Though Memphis is without Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Steven Allen, and Desmond Bane, overlook the Grizzlies at your own peril.

Even without the majority of their top line, Memphis has been playing winning basketball over the past two weeks. The Grizzlies are 4-2 with one of the stoutest defenses in the league. Local legend Jaren Jackson Jr. has assumed control of the offense, averaging nearly 26 points per game over the last 10.

They've also been buoyed by the emergence of second year player Vince Williams Jr. Williams is averaging 17 points, almost seven rebounds, four assists and nearly two steals a game over the last two weeks. He's a bit like their version of Aaron Nesmith. He guards the opposing team's best player and still manages to score efficiently.

The Pacers are in for another dog fight. Hopefully they come prepared.

Injuries

How to Watch

Tipoff is at 3:30 PM ET.

TV: Bally Sports Indiana, NBA League Pass

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan

See ya in the comments!

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