Brendan Rourke

"In 49 states it's just basketball, but this is Indiana."

About a month ago, the Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot reached over $1 billion for the third time in history. Now, some look at the estimated 1 in 302,575,350 odds to win and scoff at ticket-buyers. However, a former coworker once delivered a quote that I will never forget.

"Sure, the odds are bad," he said. "But, two dollars to hope for a day is a good deal."

Since then, I've thought about that quote and how hope drives most people on Earth. People hope for raises. They hope for good fortunes and health. And, if you are a sports fan, you hope your team wins the championship every season.

Sports fans essentially live on hopes and desires. After all, that's what drives people to watch their beloved team every year despite the outcomes. Fans watch in the hope that their team, from their city, can earn the spotlight for their hometown. This is doubly true for the passionate fans of Indiana basketball. Luckily, they have a lot to hope for in the 2022-23 season.

A few days ago, Pacers General Manager Chad Buchanan told Basketball News that the team believes star guard Tyrese Haliburton can be "the next Reggie Miller." By all accounts, it's a bold claim. One is a Hall-of-Famer, and the other is entering just his third NBA season. However, it also gave the passionate basketball fans of Indiana a facet of fandom needed to boost Pacer fans’ spirits this season — hope.

Buchanan's quote is not necessarily to single out a player. It is a reminder for avid Indiana basketball fans to have hope throughout this upcoming season. Through strategic moves, the Pacers have a handful of future stars on their hands. Haliburton can be the next Reggie Miller, certainly. However, that leaves out Chris Duarte, who can become "the next Roger Brown." It also forgets Bennedict Mathurin, who can become "the next George McGinnis." Of course, there are no direct one-to-one comparisons to past players. Each player has a specific skill set, and overall playing styles have changed over time. Additionally, a team with this much potential talent could take some time to develop chemistry. Nonetheless, they all have a chance to leave their mark at Indiana just like the Pacer greats of the past did. Rightfully, Buchanan's quote gives Haliburton attention. But die-hard fans know the whole team has talent and deserves it.

Fans of all playing styles will enjoy this upcoming season. A new-age NBA fan that loves the long ball will tune in to watch Haliburton, Duarte, Mathurin, and Buddy Hield rain triples for the offense. A fan that appreciates the "heart and hustle" players will love watching a scrappy T.J. McConnell pick off passes, a high-flying Oshae Brissett, and an offensive rebound machine in Terry Taylor. Finally, for the “defense wins championships” crowd, the Blue &amp; Gold boast the best rim protector in the league in Myles Turner and two of the most athletic youngsters in Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith. Up and down the roster, the Blue &amp; Gold have solid pieces that will put on a show this season.

Of course, younger rosters will have growing pains throughout the course of an 82-game season, but that shouldn’t deter a Pacer fan from buying into this talent. The hope is that Haliburton makes Buchanan's words come true and gets the worldwide attention he deserves. However, it appears the guard has bought into what makes Indiana special. Along with Mathurin, he made surprise appearances last week at four Indy parks to play basketball with Pacers fans in the community.

"Community means more than anything," Haliburton said to local media. "Just getting to meet people and people actually getting to know you as a human being more so than just a guy on this basketball court, so it's really cool for me."

The coaching staff and front office have done a stellar job making Haliburton feel like the face of the franchise. And now it's on Pacers fans to hold on to that newfound hope in Haliburton, and the whole team, as the season progresses.

Better yet, this hope doesn't cost two dollars. It's free.

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Tyrese Haliburton Gives Indiana Fans a Hope to Believe In

As Pacers fans endure the monotonous doldrums of the offseason, it is time to make some predictions about the upcoming 2022-23 Pacers season. The young and re-vamped squad has the talent and potential to make some unexpected waves this season.

It is not really a secret that Pacers fans, and even the coaches, were disappointed with some of the defensive play last season. The Blue &amp; Gold finished 26th in points allowed per game (114.9) and tied for last in both opponent field goal percentage (48.3 percent) and opponent 3-point shooting (37.2 percent). While it sounds cliche, there is nowhere to go but up. Literally.

Tyrese Haliburton finished fifth in the NBA in steals per game (1.7) last season. This season, he will have full command of the starting offense and an extreme confidence level. Of course, having a healthy veteran sparkplug and an elite swiper such as T.J. McConnell as a backup also helps. Two seasons ago, McConnell finished second in the league in steals per game (1.9) and set the NBA record for steals in a half with nine. Additionally, Chris Duarte should have some overall closeout, rotation, and position improvements, as the guard enters his second year. In the paint, the Blue &amp; Gold have a talented rotation anchored by an elite rim protector in Myles Turner. Despite Turner's extended absence, the squad finished tied for fourth in blocks per game (5.6). Isaiah Jackson's active defense certainly contributed to that. Additionally, the return of Jalen Smith, who stands at 6-10, will add a much-needed height boost to the power forward spot. Last season, Oshae Brissett and Terry Taylor often were forced to defend seven-footers due to injuries.

2. The Pacers will finish in the Top 5 in assists per game

Despite last season's woes, the Blue &amp; Gold did a solid job finding the open man. Indiana finished the 2021-22 season dishing the ninth-most assists per game (25.4). Under year two of Rick Carlisle's reign, that should improve. Along with general increases in team chemistry, Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell are elite pass-first point guards. Last season, Haliburton notched 10 assists or more in 28 games, including a career-high 17 on two occasions. The 22-year-old nearly finished with a points/assists double-double average, falling just 0.4 assists per game short. Meanwhile, the veteran McConnell finished his shortened season averaging 4.9 assists per game, 0.1 off his career average. He notched a season-high 10 assists on Nov. 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, proving he still has elite court vision. Alone, the Pacers' one-two punch at point guard combined for 14.5 assists per game. They also added a third pass-first point guard in Andrew Nembhard during the 2022 NBA Draft. In college, Nembhard averaged 5.3 assists over 131 college games.

Additionally, this athletic group of youngsters is aiming to play fast and free, building chemistry game by game. With an increased pace of play, the opportunity for more fast breaks and outlet passes arises. The increase in chemistry will lead to unselfish play and finding the open man for the easy bucket.

3. The Pacers will finish in the Top 15 in 3-point shooting

One of the main struggles of the Pacers last year was the long-range shot. Despite taking the 15th-most 3-point attempts in the league, the Blue &amp; Gold finished tied for 25th in 3-point shooting percentage, connecting on just 34.4 percent of their shots from deep. Luckily, it appears as if they fixed this problem during the 2022 NBA Draft.

While the small sample size of the Summer League should be taken with a grain of salt, Bennedict Mathurin seems to have the talent to fix the Pacers' long-range shooting woes. The rookie shot 38.3 percent from deep over 63 games at Arizona. Then, in his first two games as an NBA player, Mathurin started with confident triples. He finished the Summer League averaging 38.5 percent from deep, indicating that he will bring an immediate lift to the Pacers' perimeter game. Additionally, 3-point specialist Buddy Hield will bring a full season's worth of sharpshooting to the squad. The guard finished the 2021-22 season averaging 36.2 percent from deep. Then, there are the sneaky 3-point threats of Tyrese Haliburton (41.6 percent from 3-point range in 2021) and Jalen Smith (37.3 percent) that opposing teams will have to defend. It is easy to infer that the Pacers' team 3-point shooting percentage should experience a significant increase this year, even if the volume remains the same.

4. Indiana will win more than 25 games this year

Yes, this can be considered a "re-tooling" year by all accounts. After all, the Pacers saw the departure of reliable veterans in Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren, Caris LeVert, and Justin Holiday over the last seven months. They have opted to fill their roster with elite, young talent. Along the way, they could likely make mistakes against veteran championship-now teams. However, the roster has solid pieces at all positions. Haliburton provides the elite point-guard potential to take this team to the next level. McConnell provides solid veteran backup minutes and can fill in as a starter when needed. Duarte is becoming a solid two-way player. Hield, and hopefully Mathurin, provide the 3-point shooting component the Pacers were missing for most of last season. Turner, Jackson, and Smith's returns will bolster defense in the paint. Finally, Oshae Brissett and Terry Taylor add that hustle factor necessary to tip loose balls and boards in a team's favor. Brissett brings the everyman role NBA rosters desperately seek, while Taylor has shown elite offensive rebounding skills, which gives the Blue &amp; Gold numerous second-chance opportunities. If the team stays healthy and things come together, a playoff or play-in berth is not out of the question for this squad. At the very least, Indiana should be able to top last season's win total with relative ease.

5. Bennedict Mathurin will win Rookie of the Year

Perhaps the boldest prediction of the bunch has been saved for the final spot on this list. There are reasons on both sides of this argument as to why it will or won't happen. First, this NBA rookie class appears to be stacked. After averaging 20 points over two Summer League games, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero looks deserving of the first-overall pick. With that will come increased media attention and general preseason hype, giving him a good run into the season. Additionally, since the Magic have a young, talented roster, the rookie will see a significant amount of playing time. Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray also poses a threat to this claim. Murray finished the Summer League averaging 23.3 points over four appearances.

However, Mathurin also has a few things going for him. Although picked outside the top five, Mathurin earned his spotlight swiftly during the Summer League. The rookie finished with a team-high 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting in his NBA debut, including 3-of-6 from deep, against the Hornets. He concluded his Summer League season shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from deep. If the swingman hovers around 50 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from three for most of the season, that would give him a boost when it comes time to pick the winner. Furthermore, Mathurin is in a similar spot as Banchero. Young, superb talent surrounds the former Wildcat, which will give him ample opportunities to earn the spotlight for Indiana. Perhaps coach Rick Carlisle summarized it best. He gets to play with Tyrese Haliburton. And Haliburton's performances have the potential to elevate Mathurin to the NBA's top rookie spot.

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Five Pacers Predictions for the Upcoming Season

With the 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League in the rearview mirror, it's time to discuss some of Pacers fans' takeaways after watching their squad play. Everyone has plenty of time to dissect players' performances over the five-game schedule, as no significant basketball events occur until September. So, let's get started:

It only took three Summer League games for the sixth-overall pick to earn All-Summer League Second Team honors, and Pacers fans should be excited about that. Finishing with an average of 19.3 points scored in an average of 22.4 minutes played, Mathurin proved he has what it takes to be an adept NBA scorer. While Paolo Banchero and Keegan Murray both had higher scoring averages, they also played more minutes (7.7 and 9.5 more minutes per game, respectively). The only player to match Mathurin's per-minute output was 2020 undrafted forward Matt Ryan for the Celtics. The New York native finished with an average of 19 points over 22.9 minutes in two games played.

Mathurin's ability to finish at all levels of the floor stood out the most. He also did not chase the game but rather let the game come to him naturally. Along with playing a physical game at Arizona, Mathurin was stellar from the perimeter. The wing shot 38.3 percent from 3-point range over 63 games for the Wildcats. Just 43 seconds into his Summer League debut, he sank a triple from the right wing.

Sometimes, rookies hit the Summer League looking to over-impress their teammates or coaching staff and take an aggressive approach. Instead, Mathurin opted to rely on a comfortable sect of his game, allowing himself to ease into the NBA spotlight. He does the same thing in his second game against the Sacramento Kings.

Perhaps hitting an early trey is precisely what Mathurin needed to get the pressure off his shoulders and open up to working on other facets of his game. Promising after effects of these shots are the results of his next field goals. In game one, he follows his triple with an alley-oop transition finish off a lob from Chris Duarte.

The finish highlighted his speed to get out in transition, athleticism to get up, and his unwavering mentality to finish strong. Against the Kings, he followed his trey with a crisp mid-range pull-up jumper.

Then, there was his 20-point outing against the Pistons. With Duarte removed from the action, Mathurin showed he is capable of leading this team on all ends of the floor. His three steals can attest to his quick defensive hands, and his three assists show he can get himself out of trouble with the correct pass. In all, the wing proved he makes an immediate and long-lasting impact with the Blue &amp; Gold.

In the NBA, solid second-round picks are hard to come across. While some, like former Pacer Malcolm Brogdon, excel, others have difficulties finding their spot. With the first pick in the second round, the Pacers selected guard Andrew Nembhard from Gonzaga. And after his Summer League performance, it appears Nembhard is heading in the right direction at the correct pace needed to succeed.

Nembhard suited up for all five of the Pacers' Summer League games. While the guard probably would have liked to sink a few more buckets, Pacers fans should look at the stat he was primarily known for in college, his assist numbers.

When Summer League concluded, Nembhard finished with 25 assists, including a game-high nine against the Washington Wizards. When comparing him to other players who appeared in all five games, his average of 5 assists per game stands tied for the sixth-most in Summer League.

Projected to play behind the dynamic Tyrese Haliburton and the experienced sparkplug in T.J. McConnell, it appears Nembhard is in the perfect spot to learn from two solid teammates. Additionally, in case one of the aforementioned gets an errant bump or a bruise, Nembhard appears to have what it takes to eat up some precious minutes as the Pacers' co-co-pilot. The five assists per game in his first NBA action is promising for a future floor general. Look no further than who fed Mathurin the rock for his first three. The Gonzaga product has the driving capability to draw defenders and the eye to spot the open man on the wing, which is a near-mandatory quality to possess in today's NBA.

However, this does not mean Nembhard is a fully-formed NBA point guard. In five games, Nembhard shot 35.1 percent from the floor. Compare that to the pass-first McConnell, whose lowest season-long shooting percentage was 46.1 percent. That came during his second year in the league. He needs to develop something akin to McConnell's patented baseline turnaround 8-footer or improve his 3-point game to earn more minutes. A boost in defensive production would help too. The guard averaged just 0.8 steals per game. Thus, starting his career behind two point guards with different playing styles is a perfect first step in this promising athlete's career.

The reason the second-year Oregon product is third on this takeaway list is that there is much less to say about him. That is because Chris Duarte showed it to everyone in his only Summer League outing.

Against the Hornets, Duarte finished with 16 points, including a 9-of-9 night at the free-throw line, three boards, and four assists. Perhaps the most throught-provoking stat line is his free-throw numbers. In a discussion with Tony East on the&nbsp;Locked On Pacers&nbsp;podcast, East noted that his free-throw numbers indicate Duarte is now taking his game a step further. He can get the jump on less-experienced defenders now and could draw more shooting fouls during the upcoming 2022-23 season. During his rookie season, he averaged a mere two free-throw attempts per game. With one year of experience under his belt, that number is likely to go up. And it does not take advanced analytics to note that more free-throw attempts equal more easy points for the Blue &amp; Gold.

Some can question why Duarte even stepped on the court for a Summer League game in the first place. On the other hand, it was imperative to see Duarte in command. He took this veteran-esque role to heart. He tested out his nagging left toe injury in a low-pressure environment. Additionally, he roomed with Mathurin in the team hotel to build early chemistry with his former Pac-12 foe-turned-teammate. That decision appeared to pay immediate dividends since the player to deliver Mathurin's first NBA alley-oop was Duarte himself. And from this lighthearted interview, it seems the decision to bring him to Summer League was a great one.

Isaiah Jackson, Terry Taylor Take Steps Forward

Not to be outdone, the other second-year players did not need all five games to showcase improvement either. Isaiah Jackson tallied 21 rebounds over his first two games and finished one point shy of a double-double against Charlotte. He also showcased his athleticism again, collecting a bevy of swats and slams over three games.

Meanwhile, Terry Taylor also doubled down on his bread and butter. The 6-foot-5 forward showed his uncanny ability to fight among the trees for offensive boards and putbacks. Against the Kings, he hauled in four offensive boards while playing against a seven-footer in Neemias Queta. Against the Pistons, he brought down five offensive rebounds while working the glass.

The Pacers Will Be Fun To Watch This Year

After a topsy-turvy 2021-22 Pacers season, questions loom regarding how the Blue &amp; Gold will perform this year. Predicting a record with this many talented young faces is an impossible task. However, one thing is for sure. There is no doubt that this team will be fun to watch.

At every position, there is talent. First, there is Tyrese Haliburton, who is expected to achieve new goals as the new fearless leader on offense. He is backed up by a scrappy T.J. McConnell, who always gives 110 percent on both ends of the floor and will certainly have his moments. Then, there's a laundry list of guards, wings, and power forwards who all possess the potential to exceed already high expectations. Andrew Nembhard, Chris Duarte, Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, Oshae Brissett, Terry Taylor, Jalen Smith, and Isaiah Jackson can bring this young team to new heights. Finally, there is the defensive powerhouse in Myles Turner, who some call the best rim protector in the league. While more wins would be nice, the squad somewhat resembles the 2021-22 Orlando Magic. Despite a 22-60 record, Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, Markelle Fultz, Wedell Carter Jr., and Mo Bamba proved that a "re-tooling" team can have fun while improving. Like the Magic, the Blue &amp; Gold have a bright future, and fans cannot wait to see the squad step on the court for the first time.

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Five Summer League Takeaways

The Pacers Summer League squad took the court for the final time this year, squaring off against the Phoenix Suns at Thomas &amp; Mack Center. The Sunday matinee gave several players one last chance to showcase their talents to NBA front offices, scouts, and beyond.

Unfortunately, the Pacers could not pull off the win. Despite several open looks, the team struggled to make shots consistently. Indiana finished 24-of-72 (33.3 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-36 (16.7 percent) from deep, en route to an 84-69 defeat. No Pacers finished in double figures. David DiLeo and Jermaine Samuels Jr. finished as the team's highest scorers with eight points each. Louis King finished with a game-high 14 points for Phoenix.

"I think they just dictated on both sides of the court," said Andrew Nembhard (two points, five assists). "We weren't really together offensively. We didn't really play together as much as we could have."

"They played our game better than we played our game," added head coach Ronald Nored.

It was a quiet start for the Blue &amp; Gold, who started the game 0-for-6 from the floor. Phoenix got out to a 7-0 lead before Kendall Brown tallied a transition layup at the 6:33 mark. The Pacers' defense, however, was stellar in the opening minutes. The squad forced six Phoenix turnovers over the initial 4:34 of the frame.

But Indiana's shooting woes continued to haunt the squad. An Aaron Nesmith three at the 5:40 mark provided the only Pacers points over the next 2:25. Meanwhile, the Suns produced a string of seven unanswered points to earn a 17-5 lead with 3:33 left in the first. A pair of Fanbo Zeng free throws at the 3:15 mark stopped the Pacers' scoring drought and trimmed the deficit to 10.

Later, the Pacers got some offense from former Vanderbilt forward Simi Shittu. The Canadian managed four straight points to cut Indiana's lead to 17-11 with 31.1 seconds remaining.

However, the Suns made three free throws in the final 30 seconds to take a 9-point edge into the second quarter.

Interior buckets from Tevin Brown, DiLeo, and Shittu appeared to break Indiana out of its slump. But the Suns countered with eight points, including two triples, to hold a 28-17 advantage as the game approached the halfway mark of the second quarter.

However, Indiana found a way to climb back. DiLeo notched six points of a 10-0 run to cut Phoenix's lead to 28-27 with 3:14 remaining. The Central Michigan product nailed the team's second 3-pointer of the game off an Eli Brooks dish. He then added three free throws after being fouled on another 3-point attempt.

Yet, Phoenix kept its lead down the stretch, outscoring Indiana 6-3 over the final 2:06. Indiana trailed 34-30 at halftime.

The Suns used a 10-0 run over the first 2:18 of the third to extend their lead to 14. Bennie Boatwright finally stopped the run with a tough driving finish in the paint.

The Blue &amp; Gold found a bit of a spark near the midway mark of the period. With Phoenix leading 48-34, Nate Hinton hit a tough fadeaway jumper over his defender with the shot clock expiring. From there, Nembhard and Brown worked the interior to further cut into the deficit. With 4:24 left, Brown powered home a two-handed slam to force a Phoenix timeout. The bucket brought Indiana within single digits of the lead (51-42).

Unfortunately for Indiana, the Suns quickly recovered. Tyson Carter tallied eight points of a 10-2 Phoenix run that extended their lead to 64-46 with 1:45 left. The Blue &amp; Gold managed just two more points through the remainder of the frame and trailed by 16 entering the fourth quarter.

Phoenix swiftly elevated its lead to 23 before Tevin Brown hit a triple at the 7:33 mark for Indiana's first points of the frame. However, the bucket did little to push Indiana out of its game-long shooting struggles.

Although the game got out of hand, Brown managed to add to his personal highlight reel. After Nesmith forced a steal and sprinted down the court, he found Brown beside him with a bounce pass. Brown obliged and finished with a thunderous slam with 3:49 left.

While Pacers fans surely wanted to see their team grab another win, they should still  be excited to see where this rookie class can progress.

"It was such a great group to coach, to be around," said Nored. "We had a lot of fun over the two weeks we were together."

"We got a lot to be excited about in Indy. (Andrew) Nembhard with the way he pushes the pace, the physicality he plays with defensively. We saw what (Bennedict Mathurin) did in the couple games he played, his ability to score. And Kendall (Brown), his athleticism and 'infectious-ness' on the team. We got a lot to be excited about."

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Game Rewind (Summer League): Pacers 69, Suns 84

The Pacers Summer League squad returned to action Friday night for its fourth game in Las Vegas, Nevada. The crew took on the Washington Wizards without the talents of Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and Terry Taylor. The talented trio proved enough through three games and was sidelined for the remainder of the Summer League schedule.

Unfortunately, the Pacers could not pull off the win tonight at Thomas &amp; Mack Center. After a hard-fought first half, Washington used an 18-2 run in the third quarter and outscored the Blue &amp; Gold 35-22 in the period to take a sizeable lead it would hold for the remainder of the game. After 40 minutes, the Wizards emerged victorious, 97-79. With the loss, the Pacers were eliminated from Summer League championship contention. The Pacers will play in their fifth and final game on Sunday.

Nonetheless, there were a few individual performances that stood out. Kendall Brown finished with a team-high 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. He also tallied two assists and two blocks. Aaron Nesmith also finished in double figures with 12 points. Meanwhile, Andrew Nembhard finished with seven points, six rebounds, and a game-high nine assists.

"(Kendall) was good," said Pacers Summer League head coach Ronald Nored. "He affected the game on both ends. He blocked shots at the rim. He was able to get to the rim and make some dump-offs.""He's such a great athlete that his athleticism can overwhelm people, and we saw that a little bit tonight."

Just as they did on Tuesday, the Blue &amp; Gold started the game with a spark. First, Nesmith and Nembhard knocked in back-to-back triples. Then, Nesmith added a tough bucket from the paint to cap an 8-0 run to start the game.

The Pacers held Washington to just 3-of-9 shooting through the first 4:50 of the quarter. However, Washington methodically chipped away at the Pacers' advantage. At the 3:19 mark, Tahjere McCall finished a three-point play to give the Wizards a 13-12 lead.

From there, the squads fought neck-and-neck for the lead. At the 1:01 mark, Bennie Boatwright banked in a hook shot through a foul to break a 15-all tie. The defense held Washington to a single free throw to keep a one-point edge heading into the second frame.

An 8-2 Wizards run, six from Jaime Echenique, helped the foes grab a 24-19 lead with 7:56 left. From there, Washington controlled a slim lead for a spell. Three free throws from China native Fanbo Zeng cut Indiana's deficit to 26-25 with 5:37 left. But, Arturs Zagars quickly retaliated with a triple on the other end.

Washington soon stretched its lead to seven as the Pacers had some trouble with turnovers. Then, with 2:39 left, an errant Brown pass wound up in the hands of Jordan Schakel. The guard quickly found Jordan Goodwin on an outlet pass for an easy transition flush. The bucket gave Washington a 38-29 lead and forced an Indiana timeout.

However, the Pacers did not fold. Trailing 42-33 with 1:04 left, the squad rattled off a small 7-3 run, five from Gabe York, to cut the gap to 45-40 before halftime.

Both sides started the third quarter lights-out. Indiana sandwiched a Goodwin triple with an alley-oop from Brown and a Nesmith three from the top of the key. However, Schakel quickly responded with a three of his own. Washington led 55-47 with 7:13 remaining in the frame.

At the 5:49 mark, the Pacers cut the deficit to 55-52 with a pair of Nate Hinton free throws. But that would be as close as they would get for the rest of the frame.Washington erupted for an 18-2 run, seven from Goodwin, over the next 3:59. The spree gave the Wizards a 73-54 lead before Nesmith hit a step-back jumper from the left side. Nonetheless, Washington worked back to an 18-point advantage before the teams entered the final frame (80-62).

"The biggest thing was their defensive pressure," said coach Nored when asked about the run. "Conversely, they didn't feel us. We didn't pressure them the same way."

Washington quickly pushed its lead over the 20-point mark early in the fourth. Former Northwestern guard Pat Spencer tallied five straight in 28 seconds for Washington to grab an 85-64 lead with 8:14 left.

Indiana attempted a comeback with a 9-0 run over the next 2:40. However, Washington quickly patched up the holes to prevent a major collapse. Indiana could not cut the deficit to fewer than 12 for the remainder of the game.

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Game Rewind (Summer League): Pacers 79, Wizards 97

Pacers Sports &amp; Entertainment, Indy Parks, and the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis today unveiled the refurbishments at the outdoor basketball court at Brookside Park on the city’s near eastside, highlighted by a vibrant mural painted on the main court capturing the vibrancy and energy of surrounding neighborhoods.

The mural, created by PS&amp;E Art Director Joel Dale and executed by Indiana artist Carl Leck, represents a partnership between the three organizations to upgrade the courts used by more than 30,000 children and adults each year. The project is part of the NBA Cares program celebrating the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season with the goal of creating Live, Learn, and Play Centers in NBA markets across the country. Moreover, it reflects PS&amp;E’s commitment to Intentional Generosity In Intentional Geography, an effort the company launched in 2020 to redirect resources into Indianapolis’ most vulnerable zip codes.

“So many of the important lessons our kids learn are learned right here on the basketball court, and we know there is no more important and lasting investment we make than to give the children of this neighborhood a safe and exciting place to play and grow,” said Rick Fuson, PS&amp;E Chief Executive Officer.

“We are so grateful to the City of Indianapolis and the NBA for working with us on this important project, and we look forward to seeing this court come alive with local children and residents for years to come.”

The court mural was designed to reflect the intersection of basketball and culture that has helped shape the character of Indianapolis neighborhoods for decades. It takes the standard brand elements of the Pacers and Fever and elevates them, turning up the dial on the colors to capture the energy and pride shared by the city’s residents. The goal is to evoke the feeling people across Indianapolis, young and old, get when playing our game.

“Few things unite Indianapolis residents quite like the game of basketball,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Thanks to partnership between Pacers Sports &amp; Entertainment and Indy Parks, countless current and future residents will be able to enjoy this enhanced court at Brookside Park. This project not only marks our continued mission of improving City facilities, but also highlights the Pacers’ commitment to the Indianapolis community, unifies the sports and cultural scenes across our city, and increases the pride and passion of neighbors.”

This is the second investment PS&amp;E has made at Brookside Park in the past 5 years. In 2018, the Pacers Foundation and Indianapolis Power &amp; Light (AES) refurbished the indoor court at the Brookside Community Center at the park. This was the first indoor gymnasium renovation in a broader effort to renovate community courts across the city, a push that began in 2013.

“Knowing that parks are special places for so many children and their families, we are thrilled to continue our work with Pacers Sports &amp; Entertainment to invest in our city’s parks and park spaces,” said Phyllis Boyd, Indy Parks Director.

“Together, we will continue to explore opportunities to enhance these spaces while connecting the people we serve to programs, outdoor activities, and engaging experiences.”

"The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis is committed to connecting resources to needs on behalf of Indy's parks and public spaces for the people who use them," said Lori Hazlett, President &amp; CEO of The Parks Alliance. "Since 2013, our team has been proud to partner with Pacers Sports &amp; Entertainment to align their community initiatives with opportunities that invest in one of Indy Parks most utilized amenities - basketball courts. Today we celebrate nearly 10 years of this partnership that has resulted in 19 new courts in 13 Indy Parks."

Pacers Sports &amp; Entertainment is an integrated sports and entertainment company including the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Pacers Gaming, Pacers Foundation, Inc., and operations of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Its team of inspired and dedicated employees has a shared purpose of winning through a commitment to excellence, serving the local community and entertaining fans and guests.

With over a century of history advancing the value of parks and welcoming all residents and visitors, Indy Parks connects communities by providing places and experiences that inspire healthy living, social engagement, and a love of nature. Annually, the parks department serves 8 million people and offers 213 parks, 11,258 acres of greenspace, 153 miles of trails, 131 playgrounds, 19 aquatic centers, 155 sports fields, more than 2,000 programs, and so much more.

About the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis:

The Parks Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and proud partner of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. For more than 30 years, The Parks Alliance has worked alongside Indy Parks &amp; Recreation to identify needs and opportunities to develop and maintain Indy’s parks, trails, greenways, and public spaces. Since 1991, The Park Alliance has secured and administered nearly $100 million on behalf of Indy Parks and the people that use them. The Parks Alliance board and staff have established a strong track record of stewarding philanthropy to demonstrate its critical value in making Indy a great place to live, work, play, and visit.

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PS&E Partners with Local Park Organizations to Leave Lasting Legacy

The Pacers' Summer League team was back in action Tuesday night at Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Blue &amp; Gold squared off against the Detroit Pistons for game three of their five-game summer schedule.

From the opening tip, the game belonged to Indiana. The Pacers tallied the first seven points of the game and never looked back. In total, 13 Pacers out of the 14 that played registered points as the squad rolled to a 101-87 win. The Blue &amp; Gold shot 37-of-69 (53.6 percent) from the floor while the defense held the Pistons to just 31-of-70 (44.3 percent) shooting. Indiana led by as many as 30 in the wire-to-wire win.

Once again, Bennedict Mathurin proved himself to be NBA-ready. The forward posted a game-high 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Terry Taylor and Isaiah Jackson also excelled, finishing with 14 points apiece. Taylor added nine boards, while Jackson tallied four blocks and the dunk of the night. Not to be outdone, newcomer Aaron Nesmith finished as the Pacers' final double-figure scorer with 12 points. Indiana acquired Nesmith as part of the trade that sent veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Boston Celtics.

The Blue &amp; Gold started the first quarter with a spark. Taylor and Nesmith combined for 12 of the squad's first 14 points as Indiana jumped out to a 14-7 lead with 5:31 remaining. Moments later, Mathurin got himself on the scoreboard, adding four straight. With 3:51 left, the rookie drilled a 21-foot, step-back jumper in his defender's face. The bucket secured a 20-9 advantage for Indiana.

As the offense cooled off, the defense stepped up in its place. The squad held the Pistons scoreless for a 3:09 span. Then, with 2.2 seconds left, Taylor hit the double-digit mark in the first, collecting his fourth offensive rebound before connecting on a tip-in. Indiana shot 9-of-19 from the field and led 25-11 after one.

The Pacers kept the train rolling in the second quarter, finding more success in the paint with their big men. Jackson was on the receiving end of a Nate Hinton alley-oop, while rookie Kendall Brown tallied four quick paint points. The buckets helped grab a 33-18 advantage with 7:23 left in the first half.

The squad continued to connect in the paint, with Duane Washington Jr. and Andrew Nembhard adding short buckets to extend Indiana's lead to 19. Then, Mathurin spread out the Pistons with another 21-foot pull-up jumper at the 3:53 mark.

Meanwhile, the defense kept Detroit from cutting the deficit to fewer than double digits. Eventually, a pair of Mathurin free throws with 2:15 left gave Indiana its first 20-point advantage (45-25). Indiana would finish the first half with a 52-30 edge. Mathurin led the way with 13 points, while Taylor had 10.

A 7-2 Indiana spree to start the third quarter propelled the squad to a 59-32 lead over Detroit. Mathurin capped the mini-run with a crisp pull-up triple from the left side. Indiana's defense allowed just one field goal over the first 2:22 of the frame.

As the midway mark approached, the story remained the same. Mathurin and Taylor continued to be the primary scorers. With 5:21 remaining, the duo paired up as Mathurin dished the rock to Taylor for a swift turnaround jumper. At the 4:49 mark, Mathurin hit the 20-point mark with a pair of free throws, extending Indiana's lead to 67-39. Soon after, Jackson took to the skies for the highlight of the night, powering home a fast-break slam.

Detroit managed an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 22 with 1:47 left. However, that would be as close as they would get in the frame. Jackson, Nembhard, Nesmith and Brown all contributed to closing the quarter strong. Indiana led 78-54 going into the final frame.

Gabe York's hot perimeter shooting kept Detroit from coming back early in the fourth. The former Arizona guard notched two triples in less than two minutes, including a beautiful baseline trey over his defender, to give Indiana an 88-59 lead.

The exceptional advantage allowed the Blue &amp; Gold to rotate in their reserves. China native Fanbo Zeng and former Michigan guard Eli Brooks got their names on the scoresheet. With 1:44 left, Jermaine Samuels Jr. added a cutting dunk. Then, former Murray State guard Tevin Brown pushed the crew over the 100-point mark.

It was an impeccable bounce-back performance for the Pacers' Summer League roster after falling short against Sacramento. With one regular game left on the schedule, a Summer League Championship appearance is not out of the question for this cohesive squad.

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Game Rewind (Summer League): Pacers 101, Pistons 87

The Pacers' Summer League squad hit the floor again for a Sunday matinee battle against the Sacramento Kings. The Blue &amp; Gold were looking to build upon its dominant 96-84 win over the Charlotte Hornets, while the Kings hoped for their first win after falling to the Orlando Magic in double overtime on Saturday.

Unfortunately, after a hard-fought battle, the Kings walked away with a 103-96 victory over the Pacers in Cox Pavillion. Leading 98-96 with less than a minute to play, the Kings' top draft pick, Keegan Murray, put the game on ice with a tough three-point play in the paint. After that, Indiana could not come up with a response.

Nonetheless, Pacers fans should be happy with several performances. Second-year forward Terry Taylor led the squad with 16 points and seven rebounds, including a clutch offensive board to give Indiana a chance late in the fourth. Bennedict Mathurin added 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, while Andrew Nembhard finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Other Pacers with notable performances included David DiLeo (nine points on three 3-pointers), Simisola Shittu (eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, seven boards, one assist) and Nate Hinton (eight points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals).

Sacramento earned the upper hand with three early threes, including two from sharpshooting guard Frankie Ferrari. Trailing 6-5, the Kings mounted a 13-4 run to grab a 10-point edge with 5:52 left. Seven points of Sacramento's run came from seven-footer Neemias Queta, who became the first Portuguese-born player to log minutes in an NBA game last season.

However, the Kings' hot shooting did not slow  Mathurin on the offensive end. The forward logged seven of the Pacers' first 13 points, including a tough finish in the paint over two Kings defenders. Later, Andrew Nembhard showed off his passing talent, bouncing a dime to Isaiah Jackson for an easy bucket. With 1:56 left, the Gonzaga product added a running 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 26-18.

The Blue &amp; Gold got back to within four twice before the end of the frame. However, Sacramento managed a 33-25 edge after the first quarter. The Kings finished 12-of-20 (60 percent) from the floor, including 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) from deep.

Thanks to the inside work of Shittu, the Blue &amp; Gold stayed on the Kings' heels in the early moments of the second quarter. Then, trailing 39-32, Hinton tallied six points of a 9-0 Indiana spree to grab the squad its first lead of the ballgame (41-39).

However, Sacramento quickly jumped back in front, using a string of six unanswered points. The Kings led 45-41 with 4:52 left in the first half.

A pair of Nembhard buckets knotted the score at 45 apiece soon after. But, Indiana failed to grab the lead. A 12-4 Sacramento run over the final four minutes gave the Kings a 57-49 edge at halftime.

Despite buckets from Mathurin, Taylor, and Jackson, Sacramento kept steady with its advantage. The Pacers' defense had trouble defending Queta in the paint and Murray on the perimeter. Sacramento led 68-55 with 6:20 remaining in the frame.

However, Mathurin and Jackson quickly gave the team a spark. At the 5:59 mark, the second-year center snagged a lob from Mathurin and threw it into the hoop. Later, Mathurin closed the gap to eight with a driving flush through a foul. The plays ignited a 16-3 Pacers run that tied the game at 71 with 1:27 remaining.

After, rookie Kendall Brown sank 1-of-2 at the line to give Indiana a one-point advantage. When Sacramento responded with a three, Gabe York drilled a 27-foot triple with 2.5 seconds left to give Indiana a 75-74 lead heading into the final frame.

The squads remained knotted at 79 apiece as defense tightened up in the fourth. At the 7:00 mark, DiLeo nailed a triple for Indiana to jump ahead. Then, the former Central Michigan forward added another from the baseline just 44 seconds later. The treys anchored an eventual 8-2 Pacers run over a 1:59 span that gave the squad an 87-81 lead.

However, the Kings did not fold. Ferrari and Murray nailed back-to-back threes to grab a 92-91 lead with 2:54 to go. The triples appeared to spark Sacramento, who soon stretched the gap to five.

With 1:24 left, Nembhard sank a pair of free throws to cut the gap to 96-93. After Murray responded, Mathurin sank 1-of-2 at the line. But Taylor snagged the miss and drew a foul. He drilled both free throws to cut the deficit to 98-96 with 56.6 seconds left.

However, the Blue &amp; Gold could not stop Murray on the other end, and the squad fell for the first time this summer.