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Pacers turnaround to face Memphis tonight at home

By Scott Stewart

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After suffering a loss in their season opener, the Indiana Pacers return to the floor tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies in the home opener.

WHO: Indiana Pacers (0-1) v. Memphis Grizzlies (0-1)
WHEN: Tonight, 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT
WHERE: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)

TV: Fox Sports Indiana
RADIO: 1070 the Fan
STREAM: Fox Sports GO and on the FSGO app

The Pacers
Last night in Toronto, things didn’t go exactly as planned. Paul George was Paul George and despite an extremely slow start, he neared a triple-double posting 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, but on 4-17 shooting.

Wrote yesterday that Monta Ellis could play a big role in the game, but he was pretty poor on both ends of the floor. The defense was more than suspect, but offensively it’s a must for him to contribute more than 9 points on 3-11 shooting. One bright spot and slight oddity is that every member of the Pacers starting five stole the ball at least twice as the team totaled 14 in the first game.

Ultimately, though, the Pacers struggled to continue Toronto’s big three of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, and Jonas Valanciunas, as all three eclipsed the twenty point mark as Indiana’s halftime lead dwindled into a 7 point loss in a fourth quarter that invited a comeback.

As far as injuries go, Myles Turner did not a single minute despite looking fine in the pre-game warm-up. Could be precautionary, could not be, but hopefully he will see floor time tonight. Both him and Glenn Robinson III are listed as questionable for tonight.

The Grizz
Strange things went on last night as the Grizzlies opened their season up against the Cavs, who were coming off an opening night loss in Chicago to the Bulls. Overall, Memphis was near-unbelievably awful, and at home, too, shooting just 35% from the field and 12.5% (!) from beyond the arc.

Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph led all scorers with a whopping 12 points, and Gasol and Tony Allen were the only two players to shoot 50% from the floor, but it was a weak performance and the Pacers should be weary off some bad loss backlash by the visitors.

The only injury concern listed tonight was Jarell Martin, who is still out following surgery on his left foot, meaning it will be a healthy Grizz team overall. Vince Carter did not play last night (coach’s decision), but might see time as well.

As a reminder, tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as the Pacers seek to avoid a 0-2 start after winning five straight home openers and for the first time since 2009/10.

Next: Pacers blow halftime lead, lose to Raptors 106-99

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