The Pacers head into Memphis carrying a five-game skid, but their injury report is starting to look a little less crowded. That matters tonight, because the Grizzlies have come out of the gate at 6-1 and have done it with a roster that has surprised plenty of people.
Indiana’s trip opens against a Memphis group that has leaned on depth, strong play from Ty Jerome and a buy-in to Tuomas Iisalo’s system. The Pacers, meanwhile, have been trying to survive a rough start while piecing together a rotation that has been hit hard by injuries.
One of the biggest questions is whether Ivica Zubac can make it back. After sitting out the last five games with an ankle sprain, he has been upgraded from out to questionable. Indiana has lost all five of those games, which only sharpens the point: Zubac matters a lot, and the Pacers’ backup center options have not been able to replace what he brings.
If he does return, the matchup with Zach Edey should be one of the night’s most physical battles. Braden Smith’s former teammate gives this game a heavyweight feel inside, though Zubac is expected to be on a minutes restriction as he works back into action.
Isaiah Stewart adds another layer to the frontcourt fight. He has already given Indiana trouble before, and he’s bringing real juice on both ends.
Stewart is hitting 8-14 from three on the season, good for 57%, and has logged about 19 minutes per game. That leaves Carlisle with a decision: use Huff or Nance on him, or go smaller with Toppin at the five if he’s healthy enough to play.
The forward matchup is just as intriguing. Last season, Cameron Boozer was a name tied to Indiana when the Pacers were sitting in top-four draft range, but the lottery pushed that idea off the table.
Boozer has been excellent this season anyway, putting up 17.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and nearly a block per game in about 32 minutes. The shooting line is uneven - 38.5% from the field - but he’s making 37.2% of his threes and 94.4% of his free throws.
Across from him is Pascal Siakam, who is averaging 21 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He’s still shooting 50% from the field, but a rough 0-10 stretch from deep last week dragged his three-point mark down from over 50% to 28.6%.
That sets up the first head-to-head meeting between Boozer and Siakam, a matchup that had once been discussed in terms of what Boozer might have meant for Indiana had the draft lottery gone differently.
Jerome is the other major storyline, and this one has a bit of history behind it. During Indiana’s 2025 NBA playoff run, his chances of re-signing with the Cavaliers faded after the Pacers played him out of the rotation by Game 5.
He struggled to score and his defense slipped badly. That opened the door for Memphis to sign him to a much cheaper deal than he had expected after his strong regular season in 2024-25.
He missed most of last season with injuries, appearing in just 15 games for the Grizzlies, but he has been rolling this year. Jerome is shooting 50.4% from the field, 42.1% from three and 88.6% at the line while averaging 28.2 points, 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals. He already has two 40-point games and is doing all of it in about 30 minutes a night.
That puts a lot on Andrew Nembhard, who will be the primary defender on Jerome. Nembhard has a reputation as one of the league’s better guard defenders, and Portland already showed one way to bother Jerome by holding him to 10 points on 3-12 shooting earlier this season. Indiana will need something similar if it wants to slow down Memphis’ engine.
The game can be watched on the Pacers Streaming service of DAZN or on NBA League Pass. The radio call will be on 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan and also on NBA League Pass.
In Other News...
Grizzlies Have An Unexpected Early Season Star Fans Need To See
Early in the 2026-27 season, the leagues MVP conversation has already started to take shape around the usual heavy hitters, with Luka Doni, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey and Stephen Curry all drawing attention for the way they are carrying their teams. Memphis has its own name in that mix too, and it is not the one most people would have circled before opening night. The early returns have been strong enough to put a Grizzlies guard on the radar in a discussion usually reserved for the sports biggest stars.
For Memphis, the appeal goes beyond surprise value. The Grizzlies have spent the opening stretch trying to establish an identity, and this kind of production gives them a player who can tilt games while the rest of the roster settles in around him. Whether that early burst turns into a real award push is still a long way from being decided, but the fact that he is even in the conversation says plenty about how quickly the story has changed in Memphis. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face Another Early Test With Key Help Still Uncertain
The Grizzlies are back at FedExForum on Wednesday with another early-season measuring stick, this time against an Indiana team still sorting through its own availability questions. Memphis is working with a new young core after a busy roster shakeup, and the recent loss to New Orleans offered a reminder that talent alone will not smooth out the rough edges right away.
Ty Jerome was among the voices stressing what still has to tighten up for Memphis after that close defeat, especially on the possessions that swing games in the margins. With the Pacers coming in and the Grizzlies still trying to settle into their new identity, this one feels like more than just another November date on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Fast Start Is About To Face Its First Real Test
Memphis has opened the 2026-27 season looking every bit like a team that belongs near the top of the league, with a net rating that ranks second in the NBA and a roster that has stayed mostly intact through the early stretch. The Grizzlies have benefited from good health and efficient play, and the early results have given them a cushion as they head into a schedule that will start mixing in more demanding opponents after a softer opening run.
The next few weeks will tell a lot about how real this start is, because the Grizzlies cannot count on the same easy shot-making to carry them forever. If the three-point production cools off, they will need other ways to score and keep games under control, all while navigating a growing injury concern in the backcourt that could test their depth sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]