Indiana Pacers Host Charlotte Hornets For First Time This Season

On Wednesday night, the Indiana Pacers will conclude the first half of the season, as the Charlotte Hornets will be in town for the first of two times this season to face off with the Pacers in Indianapolis. This is a big game for standings going into the all-star break, because the Hornets are only 0.5 games back of the 8th seed, and only 2 games back from the Pacers. This will be the first meeting of the regular season between the Hornets and Pacers.

Past Matchups with Charlotte

The teams did meet in the preseason, in an exhibition game that was played at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Pacers were victorious in that game, winning 98-86. Remember, that was just preseason though. Starters and key players do not play as much in the preseason as they do in the regular season. Overall, the Indiana Pacers have had some success when facing the Hornets. Last season, the Pacers and Hornets faced off four times, and it was the Pacers winning the season series 3-1, including the game in Charlotte, when George Hill was the hero after hitting the game winner. Last year, the Pacers were without their star player, Paul George, who was still recovering from his broken leg.

Former Indiana Hoosier Returns to Indiana

On Wednesday, former Indiana Hoosiers big man Cody Zeller will make his return to Indiana and he is projected to start for the Charlotte Hornets. Zeller did some really good things at Indiana and quickly became a fan favorite. Expect some Hoosiers fans to show up to cheer on Zeller.

Both Teams Playing Hot as of Late

The Pacers and Hornets have both been playing some pretty good basketball coming in to their matchup on Wednesday night. They may not be on big winning streaks, and both may not be very notable teams, but they’ve quietly both been stringing together some wins lately. Charlotte isn’t a team that opposing teams should take easy, as they have many good players that can score and they have been showing that as of late. Charlotte has had to battle through some injuries throughout the entire season, but they are finally beginning to come back together, as they got back one of their key players who has been sidelined, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.