INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- The Indiana Pacers (2-1) will face the Detroit Pistons (1-2) on October 13th at 7:00 PM EST. The Pacers will be playing in their home arena of Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Everything is looking well for the Pacers at this current moment in time; they are coming off of a four day resting period, they have won two consecutive games, and they have managed to avoid any significant injuries.
Indiana had the status of both George Hill and Monta Ellis in question, but both players will be playing in this game. Solomon Hill (sprained left ankle) and Joseph Young (sore right groin) are both out for this game. C.J. Miles (bronchitis) has an illness and will miss tonight's game.
Ian Mahinmi will return from injury tonight as well. Chase Budinger will be making his debut as a member of the Pacers, he is returning from an injury tonight too. The Pacers will have all of the players that started in their first preseason game available to play.
Detroit will be without Aron Baynes (sore right ankle), Adonis Thomas (right Achilles strain), Brandon Jennings (left Achilles rehabilitation), Steve Blake (concussion), and Danny Granger (absence). Cartier Martin (right wrist sprain) is listed as questionable as well.
The Pacers are projected to use the following as their starting lineup; George Hill (Point Guard), Monta Ellis (Shooting Guard), Glenn Robinson III (Small Forward), Paul George (Power Forward), and Ian Mahinmi (Center).
The Pistons are projected to use the following as their starting lineup; Reggie Jackson (Point Guard), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Shooting Guard), Marcus Morris (Small Forward), Ersan Ilyasova (Power Forward), and Andre Drummond (Center).
Indiana will look to build on the momentum that they currently have. They struggled initially to do many fundamental offensive aspects, but they have seen significant improvement since their first game of the preseason.
The Pacers execution of their new offensive and defensive schemes will be the keys for tonight's game. Indiana is looking to continue to not only build chemistry as a unit, but improve their execution on both sides of the ball.
Indiana is still getting used to their "pace-and-space" 4-out, 1-in offensive style. The same goes for their defense, they are still adjusting their defensive rotations with their new adjustment of going small at the power forward position.