The Pacers lost 114–112 in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. It left me feeling bullish about the season.
That’s preseason for you.
Indiana closes its exhibition schedule against Milwaukee tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But first, there’s a rather encouraging first half to discuss.
Haliburton looked like Haliburton
Returning to the arena where he tore his Achilles, Tyrese Haliburton scored 24 points before halftime. He made his first three shots, had eleven points by the end of the opening quarter, and kept finding reasons to shoot. His evening ended at the break.
We can attach all the appropriate October qualifications. I’m still going to enjoy that.
The confidence was especially encouraging. After everything involved in getting back onto that floor, Haliburton played with the ambition you want from the player who makes this offense go.
He said Thursday that once the game started, he stopped thinking about the setting. Playing in Oklahoma City hadn’t been the original plan, either. Missing the Atlanta game prompted a conversation with the coaches about getting more reps.
Those reps appear to have been useful.
Zubac found a few rebounds
After Indiana went an entire game against Atlanta without an offensive rebound, Ivica Zubac collected five himself against the Thunder.
He finished his first-half work with thirteen points, thirteen rebounds, and five assists. Doing that against a frontcourt featuring Isaiah Hartenstein made the performance particularly welcome.
We’ve spent camp wondering how Zubac fits into Indiana’s pace and spacing. Tuesday offered a persuasive demonstration of what Indiana gets for making those adjustments.
A possession doesn’t have to end when the first shot misses. A center can organize the next action with a pass. And sometimes having a very large person near the basket is a simple yet excellent basketball strategy.
More of that would be welcome tonight.
Then came the second half
With Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Zubac finished for the evening, the reserves struggled to sustain the offense. Indiana shot 35% and committed eighteen turnovers across the third and fourth quarters before eventually losing in overtime.
That is a substantial amount of generosity to show an opponent.
Tonight, I’m watching whether the available groups can create a decent shot, recognize when the first option disappears, and keep the possession moving.
The backup center minutes remain interesting
The early camp picture suggested Jay Huff would anchor the second unit. The games have given us a more fluid arrangement.
Larry Nance Jr. received the backup center work against Atlanta and Oklahoma City after Obi Toppin handled some of it against Minnesota. Carlisle said Thursday that he has spoken with Nance and Huff about approaching the assignment together.
Tonight’s substitutions should be worth watching. Who enters first? Who plays alongside Toppin? What does Carlisle do when he needs more shooting or another passer?
Preseason minutes come with caveats. They can still tell us what the coach wants to examine.
Here come the Bucks
Milwaukee enters at 1–3, with Taylor Jenkins working through a roster featuring eleven players who weren’t with the team at the beginning of last season. The Bucks have been enthusiastic three-point shooters this preseason, attempting forty-five per game while making 30.6%.
For Indiana, that makes perimeter communication and finishing defensive possessions useful priorities. A missed threes lead to long rebounds. Everybody needs to crash.
There’s also Myles Turner, which should save everyone the trouble of manufacturing a subplot. I’m interested in how Indiana uses Zubac’s interior presence against a familiar defender—and how its own defense handles a center who can pull attention toward the perimeter.
Who’s available?
Aaron Nesmith will sit tonight with a hamstring issue. He, Andrew Nembhard, and Jarace Walker were able to participate in some of Thursday’s practice.
T.J. McConnell still hasn’t played this preseason. Asked Thursday about opening night, Carlisle expressed hope that he would be ready rather than confirming it.
Keep those distinctions in mind when assessing tonight’s combinations. There’s still some assembly required.
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Tonight’s details
Opponent: Milwaukee Bucks
When: Friday, October 16, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Watch: DAZN, free tonight within the Pacers’ local broadcast territory
Listen: 93.5/107.5 The Fan.
My wish list is modest: another comfortable outing from Haliburton if he plays, more productive possessions around Zubac, and fewer passes to people wearing the wrong uniform.
Then we can retire the preseason qualifications and start getting unreasonable about games that count.
What do you want to see before the real thing begins?
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