2019-20 Game Preview

Wheat Hotchkiss

It's win or go home for the Pacers on Monday night in Orlando. Facing a 3-0 deficit in their first-round series, Indiana must win Game 4 against the Heat to avoid elimination.

The Blue & Gold dug themselves a big hole in Game 3 on Saturday, surrendering 74 points in the first half, eight more than a Pacers opponent had scored all season over the first two quarters. The Heat led by as many as 20 and by 18 at halftime.

Indiana played much better in the second half, trimming the deficit to four by the end of the third quarter and twice getting within two in the final frame, but couldn't finish off the comeback, ultimately dropping a third straight game, 124-115.

PLAYOFF CENTRAL: See More at Pacers.com/Playoffs »

"We had nothing to lose," Pacers guard Victor Oladipo said of the difference after halftime. "It was either make something happen or get embarrassed, one of the two. We did a great job fighting making it a game, but unfortunately we came up short."

The Pacers will need to play with that same level of urgency and pride for a full four quarters in Game 4 if they want to avoid being swept out of the first round for the second straight season and the third time in the last four years.

Everyone knows that no team in NBA history has ever successfully rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a series. But the series is not over until Miami wins a fourth game. The Pacers can't win four games at once so their sole focus should be on finding a way to win Game 4.

"We know what Game 4 is about," Pacers head coach McMillan said after Saturday's loss. "We're down 3-0 and it's win or go home. As I told our guys, we're not dead. We showed this second half what we're capable of doing, but we've got to put together that type of intensity, that type of belief for 48 minutes."

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG -Victor Oladipo, SF - Justin Holiday, PF - T.J. Warren, C - Myles TurnerHeat: PG - Goran Dragic, SG - Duncan Robinson, SF - Jimmy Butler, PF - Jae Crowder, C - Bam Adebayo

Pacers: Jeremy Lamb - out (torn left ACL), Domantas Sabonis - out (left foot plantar fasciitis)

Heat: Jae Crowder - questionable (left ankle sprain), Andre Iguodala - questionable (left hip soreness), Derrick Jones Jr. - questionable (left ankle sprain), Chris Silva - questionable (left groin strain), KZ Okpala - out (personal reasons), Gabe Vincent - out (right shoulder sprain)

Aug. 22, 2020: Four Heat players scored 20 or more points as Miami built an 18-point halftime lead and held on down the stretch on its way to a 124-115 win.

Butler leading the way with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. He went just 5-for-16 from the field, but 17-for-20 from the free throw line as the Heat attempted an astounding 52 free throws as a team.

Goran Dragic finished with 24 points and six assists, going 5-for-10 from beyond the arc. Bam Adebayo added 22 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, while Tyler Herro scored 20 off the bench.

Malcolm Brogdon led Indiana with a game-high 34 points to go along with seven rebounds and 14 assists, going 11-for-17 from the field, 4-for-7 from 3-point range, and 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

T.J. Warren added 23 points, six rebounds, and five steals for Indiana, while Victor Oladipo contributed 20 points and four boards.

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
TNT - Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Stan Van Gundy (analyst), Rebecca Haarlow (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Heat (Game 4)

After dropping their first two games against the Heat in similar fashion, the Pacers find themselves in desperate need of a win in Game 3 to climb back into their best-of-seven playoff series.

Turnovers and 3-point shooting were the biggest concern in Indiana's 109-100 loss to Miami in Game 2. Indiana coughed the ball up 17 times while the Heat to go 18-for-35 from 3-point range. Second-year Miami guard Duncan Robinson was particularly a problem, going 7-for-8 from beyond the arc on his way to a game-high 24 points.

The Pacers also will need better production from their bench in Game 3. All five starters scored in double figures in Game 2, but Indiana's reserves combined for just 18 points and were outscored by 12 by Miami's bench.

JaKarr Sampson scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting in 17 minutes and Justin Holiday chipped in six points and seven rebounds, but the rest of the second unit struggled. T.J. McConnell, Doug McDermott, and Edmond Sumner combined for just four points on 2-for-11 shooting.

Despite those struggles, the Pacers trailed by just five points at halftime and remained striking distance for most of Game 2. They just weren't able to mount a charge down the stretch, as Heat veterans Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic came through in the clutch for the second straight game to seal the victory.

But the Pacers head into Game 3 with the confidence that they can compete with the Heat.

"This series is far from over," Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon said after Game 2. "We've just got to focus on getting our first win. Just get one win and then go from there."

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG -Victor Oladipo, SF - Aaron Holiday, PF - T.J. Warren, C - Myles TurnerHeat: PG - Goran Dragic, SG - Duncan Robinson, SF - Jimmy Butler, PF - Jae Crowder, C - Bam Adebayo

Heat: Jae Crowder - questionable (left ankle sprain), Derrick Jones Jr. - questionable (left ankle sprain), KZ Okpala - out (personal reasons), Gabe Vincent - out (right shoulder sprain)

Aug. 20, 2020: The Heat took a five-point lead into halftime, hit their first eight shots to start the third quarter, and never looked back on their way to a 109-100 Game 2 victory.

"When you come out of halftime and the opposing team knocks down a few threes, that can be deflating," Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon said. "That put us in a hole that we were working to get back from the entire half."

Victor Oladipo scored a team-high 22 points for Indiana in the loss, going 4-for-11 from 3-point range and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Myles Turner added 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, eight rebounds, and five blocks for the Blue & Gold.

Sharpshooter Duncan Robinson went 7-for-8 from beyond the arc on his way to a game-high 24 points for Miami. Goran Dragic added 20 points and six assists, while Jimmy Butler chipped in 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals for the Heat.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
TNT - Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Jared Greenberg (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Heat (Game 3)

After dropping Game 1 to the Heat on Tuesday, the Pacers will look to bounce back on Thursday afternoon and even the series.

All things considered, the Pacers acquitted themselves well in Game 1 despite the end result. Already without All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, Indiana lost two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo to an eye injury late in the first quarter. Starting guard Aaron Holiday was also limited to just 16 minutes due to foul trouble, but yet the Pacers found themselves up two with under 10 minutes to play.

But things got away from the Blue & Gold down the stretch. Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler hit some big shots and Miami's defense forced Indiana into some crucial turnovers as the Heat outscored the Pacers 32-21 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 113-111 win.

The biggest question heading into Game 2 is the availability of Oladipo. The star guard's left eye swelled up quickly on Tuesday, enough that he was unable to return. He visited the NBA's on-campus clinic after the game, but further evaluation showed no immediate concerns. The Pacers training staff will continue to monitor Oladipo, who is considered day to day.

Defensively, the Pacers' focus will remain on Butler and Dragic. Indiana did a solid job of sticking to Miami's shooters, but that enabled Butler and Dragic to attack the defense and create for themselves. Butler alone attempted 12 free throws, a figure that the Pacers will hope to lower in Game 2.

The unique circumstances of the NBA bubble in Orlando also present a different test for both teams. In a normal series, the Pacers would have their fans backing them in Game 2, but homecourt advantage takes on a different meaning in the bubble. And the condensed schedule also means less time between games. Indiana and Miami will tip off Game 2 a little over 42 hours after they finished Game 1.

Pacers: Victor Oladipo - questionable (left eye contusion), Jeremy Lamb - out (torn left ACL), Domantas Sabonis - out (left foot plantar fasciitis)

Heat: Jae Crowder - questionable (left ankle sprain), KZ Okpala - out (personal reasons), Gabe Vincent - out (right shoulder sprain)

Aug. 18, 2020: Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic combined for 24 points in the fourth quarter as Miami pulled away late for a 113-101 win in Game 1. Indiana trailed by just one entering the fourth quarter and led briefly early in the final frame, but the Heat seized control with a 16-6 run and never looked back.

"I thought they picked up their intensity the second half," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said after the loss. "The fourth quarter we started to turn the ball over more and they executed down the stretch and (were) able to get control of the game."

Malcolm Brogdon finished with 22 points and 10 assists for Indiana, recording a double-double in his first playoff game with the Pacers. T.J. Warren, making his playoff debut, tallied 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting (4-of-5 from 3-point range), eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals.

Butler finished with a team-high 28 points for Miami to go along with three boards, four assists, two blocks, and four steals. Dragic added 24 points, going 4-for-9 from 3-point range, and tallied six rebounds and five assists.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
ESPN - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), Malika Andrews (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Heat (Game 2)

Playoff basketball is finally happening. After a four month hiatus, weeks of training camp, and eight seeding games, we have now reached the postseason.

The Pacers find themselves facing a familiar foe in the first round in the Miami Heat. Indiana and Miami met in two of their final three seeding games, meaning if their playoff series goes the maximum seven games, they could face each other in nine of 10 contests.

When it comes to facing the Heat, the Pacers have to both protect the paint and guard the 3-point line. Miami ranked fourth in the NBA in free throw attempts per game this season (25.2), but also ninth in 3-point attempts (35.4).

Forward Jimmy Butler (19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists per game) and center Bam Adebayo (15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game) are the Heat's two All-Stars, though neither are threats from 3-point range. But Miami coach Erik Spoelstra is mindful of surrounding them with a bevy of capable shooters like Duncan Robinson (.446 3-point percentage), Jae Crowder (.445), Tyler Herro (.389), and Goran Dragic (.367).

Defensively, expect the Heat to key on T.J. Warren, who has been the Pacers' go-to option in the bubble with All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis absent due to plantar fasciitis. The Heat keyed heavily on Warren in a 114-92 win last Monday, limiting him to just 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting, and can throw a variety of capable defenders on him between the likes of Butler, Crowder, and Andre Iguodala.

With so much of the defense's focus on Warren, the Pacers will need Malcolm Brogdon and Victor Oladipo to provide some scoring punch of their own. Brogdon has been solid in the bubble, averaging 18.2 points and 6.3 assists. Oladipo, meanwhile, has shown flashes of his previous All-Star form. In his last playoff appearance in 2018, he averaged 22.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6 assists while pushing LeBron James and the Cavs to seven games.

Pacers: T.J Warren - questionable (right foot plantar fasciitis), Jeremy Lamb - out (torn left ACL), Domantas Sabonis - out (left foot plantar fasciitis)

Heat: Derrick Jones Jr. - questionable (neck strain), KZ Okpala - out (personal reasons), Gabe Vincent - out (right shoulder sprain)

Aug. 14, 2020: With both teams resting several starters, the Pacers showcased their depth in a 109-92 win over Miami on the last day of the regular season.

Six Pacers scored in double figures, led by Doug McDermott, who scored 23 points in the win, going 8-for-16 from the field and 5-for-11 from 3-point range. Malcolm Brogdon, the only regular Pacers starter in the lineup on Friday, added 16 points in 25 minutes, going 4-for-7 from beyond the arc while also tallying six rebounds and six assists.

Second-year forward Alize Johnson got his first career start and responded with his first double-double, collecting 11 points and 17 rebounds (seven on the offensive glass) to go along with four assists.

"He did what he always does," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said of Johnson's career night. "He's been in the G League a lot for us, but he has always been a guy that rebounds the ball. He plays a lot bigger than he is down there and I thought tonight he did a great job of going after the ball."

Kendrick Nunn led the Heat with 23 points, but went just 8-for-26 from the field. Former Pacer Solomon Hill added 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists off the bench, while Tyler Herro finished with 16 points.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
TNT - Bob Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (analyst), Stephanie Ready (analyst)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Heat (Game 1)

The Pacers (44-28) will get an early preview of their first-round matchup on Friday afternoon in Orlando when they take on the Miami Heat (44-28) in their final game of the regular season.

The winner of Friday's game will secure the fourth seed in the East and "homecourt advantage" in the best-of-seven series. But since all seven games will be played within the NBA's bubble, having the better seed is less meaningful than in a usual year.

As a result, both teams will likely hold out key players to ensure they are healthy for the playoffs, which are set to begin next week.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Latest Standings, First-Round Matchups, and More »

Indiana already sat leading scorer T.J. Warren (plantar fasciitis in his right foot) and starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon (sore neck) on Wednesday against James Harden and the Rockets, but the Blue & Gold were still able to find a way to pull out a 108-104 win.

Health notwithstanding, the Pacers could want to get a positive result against the Heat heading into the postseason. While the two teams are tied in the standings, Miami has won all three meetings this season, the last two by a convincing margin. Even if Friday's game turns out to be a showcase of both team's reserves, a Pacers win could give them a nice confidence boost heading into the playoff series.

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG - Aaron Holiday, SF - Justin Holiday, PF - JaKarr Sampson, C - Goga BitadzeHeat: PG - Kendrick Nunn, SG - Duncan Robinson, SF - Jae Crowder, PF - Derrick Jones Jr., C - Kelly Olynyk

Pacers: Goga Bitadze - questionable (sore left knee, Jeremy Lamb - out (torn left ACL), Victor Oladipo -  out (sore left ankle), Domantas Sabonis - out (left foot plantar fasciitis), Myles Turner - out (right wrist sprain), T.J. Warren - out (right foot plantar fasciitis)

Heat: Jae Crowder - questionable (right knee bruise), Derrick Jones Jr. - questionable (left knee bruise), Bam Adebayo - out (right knee soreness), Jimmy Butler - out (right foot soreness), Goran Dragic - out (left ankle soreness), KZ Okpala - out (personal reasons), Gabe Vincent - out (right shoulder sprain)

Aug. 10, 2020: Miami outscored Indiana 68-44 in the second half on route to a 114-92 victory. The Pacers struggled from the floor all night, converting just 39.3 percent of their shots.

"Just one of those games, unfortunately," Victor Oladipo said after the loss. "We couldn't really get anything going. Just live and you learn. We'll be seeing those guys probably a lot in the next couple weeks, so we've got to be ready."

Oladipo led Indiana with 14 points and five rebounds in the loss. Malcolm Brogdon added 12 points, eight boards, and six assists.

Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. He went just 5-for-13 from the field, but 9-for-11 from the free throw line. Derrick Jones Jr. added 18 points off the bench on 9-of-11 shooting, while fellow reserve Tyler Herro tallied 17.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
ESPN - Mark Jones (play-by-play), Doris Burke (analyst), Rachel Nichols (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Heat

After a disappointing loss to Miami on Monday, the Pacers (43-28) will look to bounce back on Wednesday against Houston (44-26) in their penultimate regular season game.

Indiana struggled offensively in its 114-92 loss to the Heat, shooting just 39.3 percent from the floor and committing 17 turnovers.

The Pacers will need more firepower than that to keep up with the Rockets. Houston is second in the NBA in offensive rating, averaging 113.4 points per 100 possessions, and star guard James Harden (34.3 points per game) has locked up his third straight scoring title.

But while Indiana is still fighting for playoff positioning, the Pacers are prioritizing their health heading into the playoffs. Leading scorer T.J. Warren is listed as out for Thursday's game with a sore foot and fellow starters Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo, and Myles Turner are all questionable.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Track the Latest Standings, Potential First-Round Matchups, and More »

Houston is battling for seeding at the top of the Western Conference, currently in fourth place and fighting with Denver for the third seed.

The Rockets will be playing the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday, having lost to San Antonio on Tuesday afternoon. Harden sat out Tuesday to rest, meaning he likely will be back in uniform against the Pacers.

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG -Victor Oladipo, SF - Aaron Holiday, PF - JaKarr Sampson, C - Myles TurnerRockets: PG - James Harden, SG - Eric Gordon, SF - Ben McLemore, PF - Robert Covington, C - P.J. Tucker

Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon - questionable (sore neck), Victor Oladipo - questionable (sore left ankle), Myles Turner - questionable (sore neck), Jeremy Lamb - out (torn ACL, left knee), Domantas Sabonis - out (plantar fasciitis, left foot), T.J. Warren - out (sore right foot)

Rockets: Danuel House Jr. - questionable (left toe sprain), Russell Westbrook - out (right quad contusion), William Howard - not with team, David Nwaba - not with team, Thabo Sefolosha - not with team

Nov. 15, 2019: The Pacers were unable to contain James Harden and fell to Houston 111-102 at Toyota Center.

Harden scored 44 points, going 13-for-26 from the field, 6-for-14 from 3-point range, and 12-for-14 from the free throw line, while also tallying eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Ben McLemore added 21 points, while Russell Westbrook had 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in the win.

The Pacers lost starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon in the first quarter to a back injury.

"That's a big loss when you're going up against guys like Harden and Westbrook," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. "You not only need him offensively, but you need his size defensively. I thought our guys worked hard and gave us all that they had. We were sitting there right in that game late in the fourth with an opportunity."

Domantas Sabonis led Indiana with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. Doug McDermott also scored 18 points off the bench.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
NBA TV - Bill Worrell (play-by-play), Cayleigh Griffin (studio host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Rockets

The Pacers and Heat are about to get awfully familiar with one another. Indiana and Miami will meet in two of their final three seeding games in Orlando and, if the current standings hold, could also square off in a first-round playoff series.

Both teams enter Monday with identical 43-27 records and are tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference, though the Heat have secured the tiebreaker. Philadelphia is just a half-game back, though both the Pacers and Heat own tiebreakers over the Sixers.

The next five days will determine first-round matchups. The two teams that finish fourth and fifth will face each other to open the playoffs, while the team who finishes sixth will face Boston.

The last meeting between the Pacers and the Heat was marked by multiple incidents between Pacers forward T.J. Warren and Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler, culminating in Warren's ejection in the third quarter and some postgame trash talk from Butler.

That budding rivalry is even more intriguing given Warren's red-hot play in Orlando. The sixth-year forward out of NC State is averaging 34.8 points while shooting 60.5 percent from the field, 55.6 percent from 3-point range, and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. He went off again on Saturday against LeBron and the Lakers, scoring 39 points while going 15-for-22 from the field and 5-for-8 from beyond the arc.

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG -Victor Oladipo, SF - Aaron Holiday, PF - T.J. Warren, C - Myles TurnerHeat: PG - Goran Dragic, SG - Duncan Robinson, SF - Jimmy Butler, PF - Derrick Jones Jr., C - Bam Adebayo

Pacers: T.J. Warren - questionable (sore right foot), Jeremy Lamb - out (torn ACL, left knee), Domantas Sabonis - out (plantar fasciitis, left foot)

Heat: Jimmy Butler - questionable (sore right foot), Goran Dragic - questionable (left ankle sprain), Kendrick Nunn - out (not with team - self isolating), KZ Okpala - out (personal reasons)

Jan. 8, 2020: The Heat handed the undermanned Pacers a 122-108 loss at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana was without starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon and lost another starter in a wild third quarter when T.J. Warren was ejected after multiple incidents with Miami's All-Star swingman, Jimmy Butler.

"I just don't think we had enough energy throughout most of the game," Pacers forward Justin Holiday said after the game. "They played very, very well as a team, moved the ball very well, and we didn't...We have to play a full 48 minutes. We have to have a certain energy and a certain assertiveness about ourselves and we didn't have that tonight."

Domantas Sabonis led Indiana with 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting, 14 rebounds, and six assists in the loss. Justin Holiday added 14 points off the bench, going 5-for-7 from the field and 3-for-5 from 3-point range.

Bam Adebayo led Miami with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, nine rebounds, and four assists. Derrick Jones Jr. tallied 18 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Butler added 14 points, six boards, seven assists, and two steals.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Heat

After dropping their first seeding game in Orlando, the Pacers (42-27) will look to bounce back on Saturday night against the Lakers (51-17).

The Blue & Gold were dominated on the glass in Thursday's 114-99 loss to the Suns, who outrebounded them 53-38 overall and 12-5 on the offensive glass.

"I thought that our focus was more on the offensive end of the floor," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said after the loss. "Defensively we didn't do a good job of containing...and we just got pounded on the boards."

Rebounding will again be a point of emphasis against the Lakers, who rank eighth in the NBA in rebounding and have a big lineup that features All-NBA big man Anthony Davis (26.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game) alongside either JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard (who combine for 13 rebounds per game) at center.

The Lakers have already secured the top seed in the Western Conference in the playoffs and therefore just want to remain healthy through their final seeding games. They held four-time MVP LeBron James out of Thursday's loss to Houston with a sore right groin and could opt to rest him again against Indiana.

Pacers: PG - Malcolm Brogdon, SG -Victor Oladipo, SF - Aaron Holiday, PF - T.J. Warren, C - Myles TurnerLakers: PG - LeBron James, SG - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF - Danny Green, PF - Anthony Davis, C - JaVale McGee

Pacers: Doug McDermott - questionable (sore right knee), Myles Turner - questionable (sprained left ankle), T.J. Warren - questionable (sore right foot), Jeremy Lamb - out (torn ACL, left knee), Domantas Sabonis - out (plantar fasciitis, left foot)

Suns: Anthony Davis - probable (sprained right ankle), Dwight Howard - probable (sore right knee), Markieff Morris - probable (left hip contusion), Alex Caruso - questionable (left neck muscle spasms), LeBron James - questionable (sore right groin), Rajon Rondo - out (right thumb surgery)

Dec. 17, 2019: Malcolm Brogdon blew by Dwight Howard for the go-ahead reverse layup with 36.4 seconds remaining to lift Indiana to a 105-102 win over the Lakers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Domantas Sabonis led the Blue & Gold with 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting and also tallied 10 rebounds and four assists. Myles Turner added 16 points, seven boards, and two blocks.

"We were just poised tonight," Brogdon said. "Continued to make plays, continued to get stops, continued to not let them get second-chance points."

James led the Lakers with 20 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Howard added 20 points off the bench, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the field.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
TNT - Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Jeff Van Gundy (analyst), Chris Haynes (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

2019‑20 Game Preview