When the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers meet Thursday night in Indianapolis, the stakes will be significantly lower than they were the last time the teams squared off.
The Pacers open their season against the team they fell to in seven games in last season’s NBA Finals, hoping to set the tone for a season that already features several challenges.
“I think it’s past at this point,” Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard said of turning the page to this season after last season’s disappointment with the way things ended.
The Pacers will be without star Tyrese Haliburton for the entire season and lost longtime center Myles Turner to free agency in the offseason.
“In a position we’re in right now, you’ve got to look forward to the challenges that are staring us right in the face,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “… I’ve talked to our team a lot about grit, and where grit got us last year and to remind those guys that were here last year and to let our new guys know that grit is a lot of what this is going to be about.”
Now, Indiana moves forward with a core of Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith.
Those four excelled together during the preseason and are looking to carry over that success into the regular season.
“Small sample size but I think we’re going to grow that throughout the year,” Nembhard said. “I think we’re all in the right mindset to play with each other.”
Nembhard said there would be some carry-over from the finals to Thursday’s game, even if the stakes are much different and the compositions are slightly different.
“There’s a certain feeling when you get out with guys and you get more comfortable and you start knowing guys’ tendencies,” Nembhard said. “They’re a hard-playing group, super deep, really aggressive defensively, really handsy, so definitely have a different feel for them.”
While Thursday’s game is the opener for the Pacers, Oklahoma City is coming off a 125-124 double-overtime home win over Houston on Tuesday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s Most Valuable Player, struggled for much of that game before surging late to help lift the Thunder to the victory.
“He’s someone we never even check in on,” Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren said. “‘Like yo, everything OK? Is there something going on?’ He’s good. When he has to look to score and make plays, he’s gonna do it.”
After scoring just 11 points in the first three quarters, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and 12 more over the two overtime periods.
Thunder guard Jalen Williams continues to recover following offseason wrist surgery, and Oklahoma City will also be without Alex Caruso for Thursday’s game.
Caruso sustained a concussion in Tuesday’s season opener.
Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain, and Cason Wallace is listed as questionable with a left knee sprain.
Quenton Jackson will miss the game for Indiana after suffering a hamstring injury more than a week ago.
Indiana will also be without Kam Jones (back) and T.J. McConnell (hamstring)
Jarace Walker (back soreness) and Johnny Furphy (left ankle sprain) will be available after missing the final preseason game due to injuries.
