Pacers Enter a New Era, but Familiar Growing Pains Persist in Loss to Bucks
The Indiana Pacers’ season has been anything but predictable-and Thursday night’s 105-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks was another chapter in this ongoing, often chaotic story. Following a major trade that brought Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to Indiana, the team finds itself walking a fine line between development and competitiveness, with the focus slowly shifting toward the future.
Neither Zubac nor Brown suited up in Milwaukee, leaving the Pacers thin up front and deep into their rotation. That meant more minutes for the youth movement, and if there’s a silver lining to be found in the loss, it’s that Indiana’s young core continues to show flashes-emphasis on flashes-of potential.
Short-Handed and Still Swinging
The Pacers actually came out of the gate strong, taking a 29-23 lead after the first quarter while rotating 10 players. Rookie Kam Jones was the first off the bench, stepping into a role vacated by Bennedict Mathurin. Jones logged 13 minutes-most of them in the first half-and while he only scored two points, he showed promise defensively, particularly on the perimeter.
But like much of what Indiana did on Thursday, the good came in spurts. Sustaining momentum was a challenge, and the Bucks capitalized on those lulls.
Milwaukee owned the glass, outrebounding Indiana by 11 and turning that advantage into a +9 edge in second-chance points. That kind of disparity is tough to overcome, especially when you're missing key contributors.
Still, there were bright spots. Andrew Nembhard continued to step up in Tyrese Haliburton’s absence, finishing with 22 points and 8 assists in 36 minutes. Pascal Siakam added 19 points in 32 minutes, though both veterans may see their minutes scaled back after the All-Star break as the team prioritizes long-term health and development.
Walker and Furphy Keep Trending Up
If you’re a Pacers fan looking for reasons to be optimistic, look no further than Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy. Both played over 30 minutes and made their presence felt-especially on the boards.
Furphy pulled down 8 rebounds, while Walker led the team with 9 to go along with 15 points. Walker also hit a tough, contested turnaround jumper to close the first half, a reminder of the scoring touch that made him a top prospect.
The continued growth of Walker and Furphy is more than just a silver lining-it’s a priority. If these two can solidify themselves as dependable rotation players heading into next season, that’s a win for Indiana, regardless of where the team finishes in the standings. With the draft looming this summer, internal development could be just as valuable as any pick.
Bucks Bring the Heat-and the Chatter
Milwaukee was led by a trio of 20-point scorers: Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and Bobby Portis. Rollins in particular brought some edge to the game, mixing it up with both Siakam and Nembhard in separate moments. That intensity added some spice to the Central Division rivalry, even if the scoreboard didn’t tilt Indiana’s way.
Myles Turner, now in a Bucks uniform, posted a solid 9 points and 10 rebounds against his former squad, playing his role without much fanfare.
Looking Ahead: Raptors Up Next
The Pacers now head north to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon (3 p.m. ET), a matchup that serves as a nice pregame appetizer before Super Bowl Sunday kicks off. Toronto presents a tough challenge with their length and athleticism, and they’re relatively healthy heading into the game.
Indiana, on the other hand, remains banged up. Aaron Nesmith (elbow) and Micah Potter (hip) are both listed as questionable, while Zubac, Brown, Obi Toppin, and Haliburton remain out.
Head coach Rick Carlisle noted that Zubac is dealing with an ankle issue that the team wants to fully heal before he debuts. There’s no timetable yet, but the message is clear: the Pacers are playing the long game.
Projected Starters vs. Raptors
- Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Johnny Furphy, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff
- Raptors: Immanuel Quickley, Ja’Kobe Walter, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Collin Murray-Boyles
Injuries
- Pacers: Aaron Nesmith (elbow) - questionable Micah Potter (hip) - questionable Kobe Brown - out Ivica Zubac - out Obi Toppin (hamstring) - out Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) - out
What Comes Next
This season was never going to be a straight line for the Pacers. It’s been winding, weird, and at times wildly entertaining.
The recent trade signals a move toward building something more sustainable. In the meantime, expect more of these growing pains, more flashes from the young core, and maybe a surprise or two along the way.
Strange? Absolutely.
But in Indiana right now, strange might just be the new normal.