Thursday, Jan. 18 at 10:00 PM ET at Golden 1 Center
Indiana Pacers Media Availability | January 18, 2024
Game Preview
After two days off, the Pacers continue their road trip on Thursday night in Sacramento against Domantas Sabonis and the Kings. Indiana and Sacramento enter Thursday's matchup with identical 23-17 records.
The Pacers and Kings will be linked for years to come because of the blockbuster trade between the two teams in February 2021 that sent Sabonis, already a two-time All-Star forward, to Sacramento and brought Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to Indiana.
The trade has been a win-win, with both sides benefitting tremendous. Sabonis made another All-Star team last season and teamed with Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox to lead Sacramento to the third-best record in the West last season, snapping the league's longest playoff drought. Haliburton, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the NBA's brightest young stars, earning his first All-Star selection this season and enjoying a standout season this year where he currently leads the league in assists and is on track to start next month's All-Star Game in Indianapolis. Hield has also been valuable addition to the Pacers with his sharpshooting skillset and fit alongside Haliburton.
Haliburton will miss Thursday's game against his former team as he continues to recover from a left hamstring strain, though he is traveling with the Pacers on this road trip.
The Pacers have still been competitive with Haliburton sidelined, winning games against Washington and at Atlanta last week before dropping both halves of a back-to-back in Denver and Utah.
The Kings enter Thursday's matchup having dropped three straight games to close out a five-game road trip, their last two losses coming in heartbreaking fashion. They fell 143-142 in overtime in Milwaukee on Sunday, losing on a buzzer-beating three by Damian Lillard. On Tuesday, Kevin Durant made two free throws with 1.7 seconds left to hand the Kings a 119-117 defeat.
Fox and Sabonis have both been having stellar seasons for Sacramento. Fox currently ranks seventh in the league in scoring at 28 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from 3-point range and also averaging 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals. Sabonis is averaging 20.1 points per game, leads the NBA in rebounding (12.7 per game), and ranks seventh in assists (7.9). He ranks second to just two-time MVP Nikola Jokic with 11 triple-doubles on the season and has a triple-double in two straight and five of his last eight games.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Andrew Nembhard, G - Bennedict Mathurin, F - Buddy Hield, F - Jalen Smith, C - Myles Turner
Kings: G - De'Aaron Fox, G - Kevin Huerter, F - Harrison Barnes, F - Keegan Murray, C - Domantas Sabonis
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton - questionable (left hamstring strain), Bennedict Mathurin - questionable (left ankle sprain), Aaron Nesmith - questionable (left tibialis anterior strain), Obi Toppin - questionable (left calf strain), Pascal Siakam - not with team
Kings: None
Last Meeting
Feb. 3, 2023: Buddy Hield balled out against his former team, leading Indiana to a 107-104 win over the Kings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Hield tallied a team-high 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the victory while going 5-for-9 from 3-point range.
Myles Turner also recorded a double-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. Aaron Nesmith added 17 points and six rebounds, Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 points off the bench, and Tyrese Haliburton tallied 10 points and nine assists.
Harrison Barnes had a game-high 23 points for the Kings. Kevin Huerter added 16 points, while Domantas Sabonis finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists in his return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers have dropped three of their past four games in Sacramento.
- Indiana traded guard Chris Duarte to Sacramento in July. Duarte, who the Pacers drafted with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is averaging 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds in 34 games this season with the Kings.
- Pacers center Myles Turner needs one block to reach 1,200 for his career. He will be the 63rd player in NBA history to reach that milestone and is chasing down Jermaine O'Neal's franchise record of 1,245 blocks.
- Third-year Indiana big man Isaiah Jackson needs 19 points to reach 1,000 career points.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
After a six-game road trip, the Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>