The Indiana Pacers did a few things they usually do against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. They forced turnovers.
They pushed the pace. They created chances.
They just didn’t cash them in.
That was the odd part of a 119-117 preseason loss in which Indiana’s usual transition pressure never really translated into the kind of payoff that normally defines its attack. The Pacers still came up with 13 points off turnovers, but in a game that tight, that wasn’t nearly enough. Less than one point per turnover is a tough return for a team built to squeeze value out of every mistake.
The other glaring issue was on the glass. Atlanta grabbed 10 offensive rebounds while Indiana finished with zero. That alone created 10 extra possessions for the Hawks, and in a two-point game, that kind of gap does the damage.
Even with a frontcourt featuring Lu Dort, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu, the Pacers were pushed around without much resistance. That part stood out as much as anything.
It wasn’t just that Indiana lost the rebounding battle. It was how completely Atlanta controlled it.
That’s where the broader concern comes in. Rebounding may be a newer piece of the Pacers’ formula, but their identity has long been tied to winning the possession game in other ways - by forcing turnovers and turning them into instant offense. When that part of the machine sputters, the whole profile changes.
The hard truth is that not every turnover turns into a sprint. A steal or deflection can lead to a break, but plenty of them just become another half-court possession on the other end. That’s why teams covet offensive rebounding so much: it’s one of the few reliable ways to create easy points without needing everything to line up perfectly.
Offensive boards tend to lead to putbacks or quick resets before the defense is fully organized. Transition chances can be even better, but only if the break is actually there. Otherwise, the possession becomes much less valuable.
For Indiana, the answer isn’t to abandon what it is. It’s to make sure its fast-break game shows up often enough that opponents have to account for it every time down the floor. If the Pacers can’t win with offensive rebounds, they need to make their transition offense feel unavoidable.
That’s the model that makes teams uncomfortable. Not just tracking back once in a while, but doing it over and over until the constant pressure wears on you.
On Saturday, though, the Pacers didn’t get those easy answers. They didn’t get enough out of the turnovers they forced, and they didn’t get any help on the offensive glass. For a team whose style depends on making extra possessions count, that made the loss feel more concerning than the final score alone might suggest.
Jack McKinney had McKinney Miles with the Showtime Lakers. Maybe it’s time for Rick Carlisle to trademark the Car-misle and help Indiana get back to playing its own brand of basketball.
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For a team built around Haliburtons pace, passing and shot-making, even a minor setback tends to draw attention. The ankle issue is being described as minor, but it arrives at a time when every preseason note about his health carries extra weight for Indiana, and it leaves fans watching closely as the Pacers try to get through October with their most important player staying on track. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Still Have The One Problem Fans Thought Was Fixed
The Pacers second preseason game offered a familiar sort of reminder, even in a tight 119-117 loss to the Hawks. Indiana came out with an early lead, then faded in the third quarter and never quite found its footing again, all while keeping the workload light and not playing anyone more than 20 minutes. For a team trying to use October to smooth out its edges, the result was less important than the way the game unfolded.
Even after bringing in Ivica Zubac to shore up the glass, the rebound battle still looked shaky against Atlanta. Indiana did plenty of things well enough to stay close, but the possession game told the louder story, and that is the part the Pacers cannot afford to ignore for long. Jarace Walker led Indiana with seven rebounds, a small bright spot in a loss that left one of last seasons lingering concerns still hanging around. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Just Became Indianas Biggest Question Again
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What makes this next stretch so important is not just whether Haliburton can suit up again, but how quickly he can look like himself after such a serious injury. His first game back offered some encouraging signs, with his passing and defense both standing out, yet the bigger question for Indiana is what comes next as he settles back into live NBA rhythm. For a Pacers team that has invested so much in him, the answer will shape far more than one return appearance. [Read more 🡒]