INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers held their annual FanJam scrimmage yesterday, and while the event is designed to be a treat for fans, it has also grown into an evaluation tool for the Pacers themselves.
In the last two years, the team has shifted toward taking the intrasquad battle more seriously. “It’s not just going to be a FanJam, mess-around scrimmage. It’s going to be a live competitive game with some kind of consequence,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said a week ago. He later shared that he viewed that event as something similar to a fifth preseason game, and it’s a measuring stick for the Pacers.
In that way, the game did have some important takeaways for the blue and gold, who kick off preseason play tomorrow in Atlanta against the Hawks.
An important note before looking at takeaways from FanJam — here were the 2024 rosters. White team: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Kendall Brown, James Johnson, Tristen Newton, Enrique Freeman, Johnny Furphy (DNP) Blue team: T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin, James Wiseman, Cole Swider, Quenton Jackson, Isaiah Jackson (DNP). The coaching and training staffs were divided among the two squads.
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Andrew Nembhard rose above the rest
Many players had moments that made them stand out, but third-year guard Andrew Nembhard had perhaps the best outing of anyone who suited up.
The starting two guard finished with 20 points, two rebounds, and one assist. He shot 6/8 from the field and had multiple runs where he was the best scorer for his team. From the mid-range, he was dominant. He got to the rim for passes and canned two outside shots.
At one point, he and teammate Bennedict Mathurin went back-and-forth trading attempts to score. They are both competitive, dating back to the day they were both drafted to the Pacers.
In the 20-minute game, Nembhard was the only player to reach 20 points. His efficiency and competitiveness stood out. He’s fresh off of playing in the Olympics, and his confidence is shining heading into a third season.
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“I was just trying to hoop,” Nembhard said of FanJam. “Nice to just get out, play, have fun, get our shape back.”
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard signs an autograph after playing in Pacers FanJam 2024. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Pacers On SI) / Tony East
James Wiseman made his one half count
James Wiseman has been recovering from a groin injury for much of training camp, but he was able to play for one half of the FanJam scrimmage. He started for the blue team with Isaiah Jackson out.
The four-year pro put together a nice outing. He scored eight points in 8:11 of playing time with his size standing out. He pulled in three boards and didn’t turn the ball over once while working through a new system.
Wiseman joined the Pacers to grow. He believes in the team’s development program and hopes that his career can turn around in Indiana. So far, he has fit in well. “He’s a great young prospect,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said.
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His first showing in front of fans was solid. His defense will be worth watching once the Pacers take on non-intrasquad opponents, but Wiseman had a strong start.
“James is great. He’s perfect for the team. Athletic, fast,” Toppin said of Wiseman. “He already knows how to play with all of us, the chemistry is already there.”
Veterans did their thing
In a game that takes less than an hour from start to finish, high point totals will pop. Scoring is important when the final score is only 60-55.
Yet two veterans stood out for their stable play in T.J. McConnell and Pascal Siakam. Those two project to be the only players over 30 years old in Indiana’s rotation, and they showed why on Sunday afternoon.
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McConnell, who will be the backup floor general, led the second unit with his passing. He had seven assists — 25% of the assist total for the entire game — and kept the ball moving. Last year, McConnell played a major role in the Pacers leading the NBA in bench scoring.
Siakam, meanwhile, pulled in six rebounds and then pushed in transition. If he can take another step in the open floor for the fast-paced Pacers, his role could slightly change in a positive way this season. The recently re-signed forward threw a few impressive cross-court passes, too.
Much of the focus on Indiana’s improvement this season will focus on young guys. The vets shined on Sunday.
Indiana Pacers guards Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin speak with a referee during Pacers FanJam 2024. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Pacers On SI) / Tony East
Indiana’s bench unit is still being formed
Between Wiseman only playing for one half and Jackson being out, it’s hard to get a feel for the Pacers second unit. That stacks on top of Jarace Walker operating as a backup three in training camp at times and Ben Sheppard impressing his teammates.
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McConnell, Mathurin, and Toppin will almost certainly be in the Pacers second unit. Beyond that, not much is known, and FanJam showed different types of units. Wiseman’s injury influenced things, but it’s hard to get a feel for what Indiana hopes their bench will look.
Maybe Walker and Sheppard both play in a smaller group that has Toppin at the five. Perhaps Jackson is the backup center and only one of Sheppard and Walker are involved. Where does Wiseman fit in? It’s hard to pin things down, and preseason performances could play a part in deciding how the bench looks.
You can watch the less serious part of FanJam — the rookie singing and dancing performances — here.
New Orleans Pelicans (4-13, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (7-10, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Monday, 7 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Pacers -5.5; over/under is 228
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans heads into the matchup against Indiana as losers of four straight games.
The Pacers are 5-2 in home games. Indiana ranks fifth in the league with 17.0 fast break points per game led by Bennedict Mathurin averaging 4.5.
The Pelicans have gone 1-7 away from home. New Orleans averages 14.2 turnovers per game and is 3-4 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
The Pacers are shooting 48.7% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 48.5% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pacers average 103.8 points per game, 14.3 fewer points than the 118.1 the Pacers allow to opponents.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Pascal Siakam is averaging 20.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers.
Brandon Ingram is scoring 22.9 points per game and averaging 5.8 rebounds for the Pelicans.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 4-6, averaging 111.7 points, 38.9 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 9.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.5 points per game.
Pelicans: 1-9, averaging 100.2 points, 42.7 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Aaron Nesmith: out (ankle), Andrew Nembhard: out (knee), Isaiah Jackson: out for season (calf), James Wiseman: out for season (calf), Ben Sheppard: out (oblique).
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Pelicans: Zion Williamson: out (hamstring), Yves Missi: day to day (shoulder), CJ McCollum: day to day (thigh), Herbert Jones: out (shoulder ), Dejounte Murray: day to day (hand), Jose Alvarado: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Washington Wizards are still in the loss column after falling to the Indiana Pacers 115-103 inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday evening.
The Wizards remained competitive throughout the game, especially after the first half when they led by two points going into halftime.
However, the Pacers pulled ahead in the second half and were able to cruise to a double-digit victory.
The Pacers had seven players scoring in double figures, including a team-high 22 points from Pascal Siakam. Myles Turner had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
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The Wizards were sorely missing their leading scorer in Jordan Poole, who was ruled out prior to the game with a hip injury. That put Kyshawn George into the starting lineup, where he scored 15 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists.
All five starters scored in double figures with Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr scoring 17 points apiece for the team-high.
With 11 consecutive losses, the Wizards remain at the bottom of the NBA standings, but there are some positives that the team will walk away with.
The Wizards will look to snap their losing streak back at home on Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls.
Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
It’s a day that ends in the letter ‘y,’ so Indy Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel is acting strange online. Thankfully, this scenario has nothing to do with him acting creepy towards WNBA star Caitlin Clark, but instead, centers around the Ohio State Buckeyes blowing out the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday.
For anyone who may have forgotten, Doyel stole the show during Clark’s introductory press conference with the Indiana Fever by making the scene all about himself in one of the strangest moves ever seen in a media setting.
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Doyel introduced himself to Clark by saying “Real quick, let me do this,” before reportedly forming a heart with his hands, a gesture Clark does towards her family after games.
Clark replied by very awkwardly asking “You like that?” before things got even weirder.
“I like that you’re here. I like that you’re here,” Doyel responded. “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game, so it’s very cool,” Clark replied.
“Okay, start doing it to me, and we’ll get along just fine,” Doyel replied back.
Long story short, Doyel later apologized for his creepy actions but was ultimately suspended by the Indy Star for two weeks.
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Naturally, each time he shares his opinion on social media nowadays, he gets chirped into oblivion and Saturday was no exception.
Doyel took serious offense to Ohio State scoring a touchdown with 35 seconds left in regulation to ultimately cap off its win over Indiana 38-15. He specifically didn’t appreciate Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrating the nail-in-the-coffin touchdown by putting out a fake cigarette to mock Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti.
Doyel taking offense to a 23-year-old college quarterback celebrating a monumental win over an undefeated Indiana team is odd behavior, and folks in his mentions were sure to point out that fact.
Ohio State virtually guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff with the win over Indiana, and the Hoosiers should be safe as well, barring a colossal loss to Purdue to close out the regular season.
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