Last Updated: October 31, 10:50 AM. Matchup
After dropping both games of their back-to-back to start the 2015-16 season, the Pacers look to get back on track Saturday night at 7 PM against the Utah Jazz — a team they swept last season, winning both of their games against Salt Lake’s finest.
Despite some late game hiccups, the Pacers new-look offense has been as advertised in many ways, scoring an average of 101 points per contest. But on the other end, the Pacers have allowed 109 points; 21st in the NBA.
After Thursday night’s game against Memphis, in the Pacers’ locker room, the players described what seemed to be a given: working out the kinks of the new offense while still playing top-flight defense is going to take some time.
“We’re still trying to all get tied together,” Paul George said after the game. “The lineups haven’t been consistent so we’re still trying to work through things. It’s an adjustment, it’s a process.”
George, after a scorching preseason, has been slow to find his shot so far this season; as has newcomer Monta Ellis. The pair is a combined 15-of-55 from the field (27 percent).
Pacers head coach Frank Vogel expects the dynamic offensive duo to get back on track.
“Those guys are proven offensive weapons,” Vogel said. “They haven’t got going yet and they will. You can rely on guys like Paul and Monta.”
The matchup against Utah presents another question of which starting lineup Vogel will rollout. Against the Grizzlies — led in the front court by Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol — Vogel deployed a starting lineup featuring Ian Mahinmi and Jordan Hill at the forwards. The combination of Rudy Gobert (7-feet, 1-inch) and Derrick Favors (6-feet, 10-inches, 262 pounds) might force Vogel to send out a similar lineup once again.
Last night, the Jazz took care of the Sixers to move to 1-1 on the season, with a wire-to-wire 99-71 victory in Philadelphia. Projected Starters George Hill Monta Ellis Paul George Jordan Hill Ian Mahinmi Raul Neto Rodney Hood Gordon Hayward Derrick Favors Rudy Gobert Pacers: PG – George Hill, SG – Monta Ellis, SF – Paul George, PF – Jordan Hill, C – Ian Mahinmi Grizzlies: PG – Raul Neto, SG – Rodney Hood, SF – Gordon Hayward, PF – Derrick Favors, C – Rudy Gobert Injury Report
George Hill
Monta Ellis
Paul George
Jordan Hill
Ian Mahinmi
Raul Neto
Rodney Hood
Gordon Hayward
Derrick Favors
Rudy Gobert
Pacers: PG – George Hill, SG – Monta Ellis, SF – Paul George, PF – Jordan Hill, C – Ian Mahinmi Grizzlies: PG – Raul Neto, SG – Rodney Hood, SF – Gordon Hayward, PF – Derrick Favors, C – Rudy Gobert
Pacers: None
Grizzlies: Dante Exum – out (left ACL surgery) Last Meeting
January 5, 2015: In Salt Lake City, the Pacers bested the Jazz for the second time in a row, sweeping their season series with Utah.
With a 105-101 score, which featured 22 points from Roy Hibbert, Indiana was able to overcome an impressive performance from Jazz power forward Derrick Favors, who poured in 27 points in the losing effort.
Although the final score was decided by just four points, the Pacers led by as many as 19 points in the second quarter and 17 in the third.
Indiana made a killing from behind the arc, sinking seven of its 13 3-point attempts (54 percent), en route to the west coast victory. Noteworthy The all-time series between the Pacers and Jazz in 41-39 in Indiana’s favor. The Pacers have won their last four games against the Jazz. Utah’s last win against Indiana was in January of 2013. Gordon Hayward is about as local as it gets. He went to Brownsburg High School and famously helped Butler to the NCAA Championship Game. Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »
TV: FOX Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host) Radio: 93.5 FM/107.5 FM/1070 AM The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host) Tickets
Make sure to get your tickets for when former Butler star Gordon Hayward and the Utah Jazz pay a visit to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Find Tickets »
