The Indiana Pacers are set to take on the Brooklyn Nets on January 6, 2025, at the Barclays Center with hopes of gaining their 19th victory of the season and go above .500 for the first time since their season-opener against the Detroit Pistons. Currently sitting at 18-18, the Pacers have shown significant improvement lately, winning three straight and nine of their last 12 games. Their most recent triumph was against the Phoenix Suns, where they scored 126 points compared to Phoenix's 108.
The matchup against the Nets (13-22) presents the Pacers with both opportunity and challenge. They previously faced the Nets just over one month ago, on December 4, when they fell 99-90. At the time, the Pacers were struggling at 9-14. Since then, their performance has drastically turned around, seemingly finding their rhythm on both ends of the court.
Head coach Rick Carlisle's squad will be entering the game with confidence, but they also have their fair share of injury concerns. For the Pacers, players Isaiah Jackson (Achilles), Aaron Nesmith (ankle), James Wiseman (Achilles), and RayJ Dennis (G League) are all ruled out. Quenton Jackson and Enrique Freeman are doubtful to play as well.
On the Nets' side, the injury report reveals considerable vulnerabilities. They will be without several key players such as leading scorer Cam Thomas, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Cam Johnson, who has also been ruled out due to his ankle issue. Other significant absences include Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), D'Anthony Melton (ACL), Maxwell Lewis (tibia), and Trendon Watford (hamstring). D'Angelo Russell, acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers, is also absent due to shin soreness after suffering injury during the Nets' recent 123-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
With the Nets fielding such a depleted lineup, this game presents the Pacers with the perfect opportunity to build momentum and assert themselves as contenders. Tyrese Haliburton has been key on offense and will need to maintain his form, alongside other contributors like Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner, who each made solid impacts during the Pacers' previous win against Phoenix.
Statistically, the Pacers have been solid on both sides, averaging 115.3 points per game, good for 10th place among NBA teams and making them one of the top offenses currently. They also excel at pushing the tempo, especially noted during their last match where they out-rebounded the Suns, dominating 47-36. This uptempo style is something they will likely look to replicate against the Nets.
On the other hand, the Nets, who are struggling at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, will rely on players like Nic Claxton to step up. Claxton has shown promise but faces added pressure as the team grapples with its numerous player absences. The Nets' recent form is concerning; they have won just three of their last ten games and have been unable to find consistency.
Going back to the previous matchup, the Pacers will be motivated to avenge their earlier defeat. They struggled offensively shooting 24.2% from three-point range during their last encounter against the Nets, and they will have to improve their offensive execution if they want to secure the victory this time around.
From the betting perspective, Indiana enters the game as eight to ten-point favorites, depending on the book, reflecting their current form and the Nets' injury troubles. The over/under total for the game stands at around 222.5 points, indicating expectations for lower scoring, considering both teams are battling player availability issues.
Fans can catch the game at 7:30 p.m. ET, with broadcasts available on FanDuel Sports Midwest and YES Network. The Pacers need to remain focused, as every win counts, especially when seeking playoff positioning.
Overall, with their recent form and the Nets' injury setbacks, the Pacers have the chance to claim victory and start the new year with positive momentum. Will they be able to capitalize on this opportunity and secure the win?