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GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs. Indiana Pacers
Late into the season, the Nets are playing their first out of three games against the Indiana Pacers. It will be one of the toughest matchups for Brooklyn, considering the Pacers are one of the most challenging teams to defend.
Brooklyn is coming off a loss to the Orlando Magic, which should motivate them to perform better in this game against Indiana. Coach Kevin Ollie has a challenging task, especially on the defensive end.
Indiana’s offense will be a handful
Tyrese Haliburton spearheads the Pacers’ offense, which ranks second in the league at 120.4. The All-Star guard averages 20.7 points and 11.4 assists per game. He is one of the league’s best offensive players, producing most of Indiana’s points.
Hali is not alone, as this Pacers team has talented players. The biggest one outside of their star point guard is Pascal Siakam, who arrived in a deal before the trade deadline. In his 26 games in Indianapolis, Spicy P has averaged 20.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He will be a challenging matchup for Brooklyn, as his physicality is problematic for the wings.
For Brooklyn, Coach Ollie would want standout performances from his stars, Cameron Thomas and Mikal Bridges. Cam has been superb recently, leading the way for the Nets. Mikal has been inconsistent, but he’ll likely play well against a mediocre Pacers defense.
Another matchup to watch is Nic Claxton vs. Myles Turner because the latter loves stretching the floor with his jump shooting. However, Nic isn’t the typical big man who drops back, as he can blitz the pick-and-roll to cover shots from the perimeter.
Injury Report
Most of the Nets are healthy, barring the season-ending injuries to Ben Simmons and Dariq Whitehead. Both players have undergone surgeries, so expect them to be healthy by training camp before the 2024/25 season. It also means that Brooklyn should be prepared for this game against Indy, considering they’ve gotten used to not having those two players.
The Pacers also have two players on their injury report, as Doug McDermott is dealing with a calf injury. On the other end, Bennedict Mathurin suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which forced him to undergo season-ending surgery. It leaves Indiana without depth in the wing position, which should be an advantage for Brooklyn.
