The Pacers and Hawks both arrive in Indianapolis carrying the sting of their ugliest losses so far.
Atlanta was blown out Saturday in New Orleans, falling 121-99 to the Pelicans. Indiana followed that up Sunday with a 98-90 loss to the winless Brooklyn Nets, a game in which the Pacers had a hard time putting the ball in the basket.
The Hawks also have to deal with more roster uncertainty after rookie guard Kingston Flemings elbowed Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens and received a one-game suspension. That only adds to Atlanta’s injury issues heading into tonight.
On Sunday, the Hawks listed All-Star forward Jalen Johnson as questionable. Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar were all ruled out, leaving Atlanta’s front court in a vulnerable spot.
Indiana has its own health concerns, and they’ve been a major part of the story lately. Six Pacers have missed the last two games.
Obi Toppin is the closest to returning after a freak back issue on Friday, and T.J. McConnell is expected to be next in line.
There has been no update on Ivica Zubac, who has been away from the team since Indiana’s game against Milwaukee last Monday.
The Pacers are also dealing with the second night of a back-to-back, while Atlanta had the night off before this matchup. Even so, a depleted Hawks roster could make things more manageable for Indiana.
There’s at least one recent reference point for how these teams can look against each other. In the second preseason game for the Pacers, they faced the Hawks without Haliburton, offering a glimpse of what Indiana might look like without its starting point guard.
That night, the Pacers’ starters each played about 20 minutes, and the scoring was spread around. Oubre and Siakam each finished with 13 points, Nembhard added 10 points and 3 assists, and Nesmith chipped in 7 points and 5 assists.
Larry Nance handled the backup center minutes behind Zubac, while Jay Huff filled the third-string role. It was Nance’s first game with the blue and gold, and he posted 6 points on 2-4 shooting with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Huff finished with 5 points and no rebounds in 10 minutes. With Zubac out, Nance could be in line to start against a quicker Onyeka Okongwu.
That preseason game also showed how dangerous Johnson and Okongwu can be together. They combined for 38 points on 15-22 shooting against Indiana. Nickeil Alexander-Walker didn’t play in that one, but he’s Atlanta’s top guard at 19.3 points per game and figures to carry a heavy load, especially if Johnson is unable to go.
Nembhard and Alexander-Walker also have a history that goes back to their days competing against each other in Canada, making that matchup one to watch.
Tonight will also bring another look at Indiana’s gold pinstripe uniforms, which the Pacers will wear at home for the third time this season. They’re still searching for their first home win, and they badly need one against Atlanta.
The Hawks will be in black, a look that stands as their best uniform option.
The game will be available on the Pacers Streaming service of DAZN and NBA League Pass. The radio call will air on 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan and can also be heard on NBA League Pass.
In Other News...
Pacers Trade Is Under Fire At The Worst Possible Time
The Pacers are already navigating a rough stretch, and the timing has made an old trade look even more painful. Indiana lost its 2026 first-round draft pick because of the protections tied to the Ivica Zubac deal with the Clippers, a cost that now feels especially steep with the team trying to hold things together through a difficult season.
Zubac has been limited in games for Indiana this year because of a left ankle injury, leaving the Pacers without the kind of return they hoped would soften the blow. Add in the injury to All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, and the combination has only sharpened the scrutiny on a move that is now being judged alongside the team's current struggles. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Got Caught In A Viral Julius Randle Moment
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Randle still finished the game with 20 points, five rebounds and six assists, which only added to the attention around the moment. He also had his next matchup on his mind afterward, looking ahead to a game against his former team, the New York Knicks, while the Pacers were left dealing with the kind of viral scene that can linger well beyond the final buzzer. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Could Catch A Huge Break Against Atlanta Tonight
The Hawks come into tonights matchup with Indiana already shorthanded, and that matters for a Pacers team looking to steady itself early in the season. Atlanta is dealing with a cluster of availability issues, including Jalen Johnson, who is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain, while rookie point guard Kingston Flemings is out because of suspension and center Jock Landale is sidelined with a hip strain.
For Indiana, the opening is obvious: a road game against a team trying to patch together its rotation can change quickly if the Pacers bring the right pace and pressure. Johnsons status is the biggest swing factor, especially with his uneven shooting this season, and the Hawks thin frontcourt and backcourt depth could leave them vulnerable if he cannot go. [Read more 🡒]