Pacers Rest Top Stars As Jazz Seek To End Skid

The Indiana Pacers are set to host the Utah Jazz tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. But this isn’t just any regular-season NBA clash—it’s a meeting between two teams staring down the lottery barrel, each navigating a turbulent season marked by injuries, trades, and shifting priorities. The stakes may not be postseason glory, but with draft positioning on the line and rosters in flux, there’s plenty of intrigue swirling around this matchup.

Let’s start with the big news: the Pacers have elected to rest five of their top players for this contest. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, wings Aaron Nesmith and Bennedict Mathurin, and point guards Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell are all out for either rest or injury management. According to the NBA’s official injury report, Siakam and Mathurin are out for rest, Nesmith is sidelined with a left hand strain, Nembhard is managing a lower back issue, and McConnell is out for left knee injury management. Head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed before the game that center Micah Potter, listed as questionable with a hip contusion, will also not be available.

This is just the third time this season that Siakam, who averages 23.8 points per game, has sat out for rest. Mathurin (17.8 ppg), Nembhard (17.3 ppg), and Nesmith (13.9 ppg) are Indiana’s next three leading scorers, and McConnell has been the team’s most reliable bench contributor, chipping in 9.5 points and 4.8 assists per game in just over 17 minutes per contest. The absence of these core players leaves the Pacers shorthanded, reminiscent of their January 17 game against the Pistons, when they also rested five regulars and suffered a heavy 121-78 defeat.

The Pacers’ lineup tonight is expected to be a patchwork of young talent and two-way players. Guards Quenton Jackson and Ben Sheppard, forwards Johnny Furphy and Jarace Walker, and center Jay Huff are likely to start, with Taelon Peter and Ethan Thompson also probable to see minutes. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton remains out as he continues to recover from an Achilles tendon tear, and forward Obi Toppin has been sidelined since October with a stress fracture in his right foot. Indiana, currently 13-37 and last in the Eastern Conference, has gone 6-6 over its last 12 games but appears to be embracing the reality of a rebuilding season. As the trade deadline looms just days away, the franchise seems more focused on securing a top-five draft pick than on chasing a late playoff push.

On the other side, the Utah Jazz arrive in Indianapolis desperate to snap a six-game losing streak. Utah, sitting at 15-35 and 13th in the Western Conference, is also navigating a season of transition. The Jazz are coming off a 107-100 loss to the Toronto Raptors, and their road record is a dismal 5-18. Like Indiana, Utah is missing key contributors: guard Keyonte George is out with a left ankle sprain, and center Walker Kessler remains sidelined after season-ending shoulder surgery. Veteran center Kevin Love is listed as doubtful due to illness, while Georges Niang (foot) and Elijah Harkless (two-way) are also out.

Jusuf Nurkic, who had been dealing with an illness, has been upgraded to available, providing a much-needed boost to the Jazz’s frontcourt. There’s also extra drama swirling around Utah’s roster, as Kyle Anderson and Georges Niang are both included in a pending blockbuster trade for All-Star center Jaren Jackson Jr.—but with the deal not yet finalized, both remain on the Jazz’s injury report for tonight’s game. Utah’s roster could look very different in the coming days, but for now, they’ll rely on Lauri Markkanen (projected for 24.6 points by SportsLine’s model) and rising contributors like Brice Sensabaugh, who’s hit the 16-point mark in six of his last nine outings.

Both teams have struggled defensively this season, setting the stage for what could be a high-scoring affair. The Jazz allow a league-worst 127 points per game and rank dead last in defensive rating at 120.4 points per 100 possessions. Indiana isn’t far behind—they sit 21st in defensive rating (114) and have allowed at least 110 points in each of their last 10 games. The first meeting between these squads back in November was an offensive explosion, with Utah running away 152-128 for a combined 280 points. No wonder oddsmakers have set tonight’s over/under at 232.5 points, and most predictions are leaning toward the over, especially with so many defensive-minded players out for Indiana.

Despite their defensive woes, both teams can score in bunches, fueled by fast-paced play. Utah averages 118 points per game, while Indiana’s offense, even with its recent absences, isn’t far off. Bettors have taken note: the Pacers have hit the over in four of their last five games, and Utah’s frenetic pace often leads to shootouts. As one analyst put it, “The Jazz are allowing opponents to score 127 points per game, the highest total in the NBA by an average of nearly five points. That’s not just because Utah can’t play defense. Make no mistake, they can’t: the Jazz are dead last in defensive rating, giving up 120.4 points per 100 possessions. But they pair that with one of the fastest paces in the NBA, a disastrous combination.”

The betting lines reflect the uncertainty and volatility of tonight’s matchup. The Jazz opened as 2.5-point favorites (and -140 on the moneyline), with the Pacers at +120 to pull off the upset. The over/under of 232.5 points is among the highest on the board, and SportsLine’s projection model, which simulated the game 10,000 times, suggests the under might be the smarter play, noting that the under has hit in five of Utah’s last eight games and four of Indiana’s last eight.

For fans hoping to catch the action, the game will be broadcast locally on FDSIN and KJZZ, and streamed nationally via Fubo. Beyond the numbers, tonight’s contest is a fascinating study in roster management, lottery strategy, and the business of basketball. With both teams prioritizing the future, the on-court product may be unpredictable, but the stakes—at least for draft night—are sky high.

As the Pacers prepare to embark on a six-game road trip after tonight, and the Jazz look to end their losing skid, all eyes will be on which young players can seize the opportunity and make a name for themselves. One thing’s for sure: with so many absences and so much at stake for the future, this isn’t your usual February NBA showdown. The action is set to tip off soon, and with the way these teams play, don’t blink—you might miss a scoring run for the ages.