The Indiana Pacers dropped their preseason opener to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. It came down to the wire with Seth Lundy hitting a three to give Atlanta the win in the final seconds. Neither team played their typical rotation players for the last 18 or so minutes of action as they marched through the preseason.
“There were a lot of positives really with all the guys that played,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after the game. “Starters did some good things.”
Said starting five only played in the first half of the battle. The second half for the blue and gold was filled with bench players and deeper reserves as the team did some evaluation. That’s what the preseason exhibitions are all about.
The final score was 131-130. While it is just preseason, there are still a few important takeaways for the Pacers.
Advertisement
Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam took advantage of on-ball reps
Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam were the guiding forces behind Indiana’s offense with the starting five, and they handled the ball often. They both had a usage rate just over 24%, per the NBA’s advanced box score, while the Pacers typical lead ball handler in Tyrese Haliburton had a usage rate of 21.6%.
Nembhard was initiating offense on multiple occasions by getting Indiana into their sets quickly or by attacking the paint. The Hawks could not stop him from getting wherever he wanted to go, and he made them pay with a few mid-range buckets that are becoming his signature shot. He finished with 10 points and three assists.
Siakam, meanwhile, had more chances to push in transition than he did on an average night last year, and he looked effective when doing so. He, too, had more of a ball handling and passing burden than usual and had a successful night, scoring a team-high 15 points.
Haliburton was off the ball slightly more than he was on most nights last season. He was still heavily involved, but if Nembhard and Siakam can make plays and have the team’s offense humming, that bodes well for Indiana’s offense in the coming season.
Advertisement
Indiana’s defense still needs work
The Pacers hope they’ll improve on defense this season. They finished last season 18th in defensive rating after the All-Star break and believe they have a chance to keep up that form. A full training camp with Siakam could help.
Yet their general struggles from last season on the defensive end were still present in this game. Atlanta ball handlers danced into the paint. The Hawks made almost 53% of their shots and generated open threes.
“Had some defensive lapses, we’ve got to clean that up,” Carlisle said.
Trae Young and Jalen Johnson — two good players, to be clear — were effective and got to their spots. Nebhard defended young well, but most other matchups were easy to punish for the Hawks.
Zaccharie Risacher had a great outing for the hosts as well.
Advertisement
The Pacers didn’t have two important defensive pieces available in Myles Turner and Isaiah Jackson, but their defense struggled to open the preseason.
Some ups and some downs from the newer players
The Pacers don’t have many new players, but the ones that offered up a first impression on Tuesday showed off some good and some bad moments.
James Wiseman, for example, was effective on offense and didn’t miss a shot. But his defense was subpar and needs work, particularly in pick-and-rolls. Cole Swider, a new wing for Indiana, showed off his ability to get off shots from deep and even displayed some ability putting the ball on the floor. But he forced the issue at times and didn’t have enough of an impact on defense.
Those two may end up being the only new Pacers players this season with NBA experience, and they had up-and-down nights. Kendall Brown, who is battling for a roster spot and is Swider’s main competitor to make the roster, didn’t impress. Quenton Jackson, who signed with Indiana in March, was effective. Those two are on the fringe of the roster but still had noteworthy performances.
Advertisement
Indiana next plays tomorrow night when they take on the Cavaliers in Cleveland. Then, they’ll head home for over a week until the regular season starts.
Atlanta’s dance scene is vibrant and eclectic, and we are honored to highlight some of the many local dancers who move us with their movements in our ongoing series “Speaking of Dance.”
This edition highlights Atlanta performer, Frankie Mulinix, the founder and artistic director of Burning Bones Physical Theatre. She specializes in the evocative Butoh, a 1950s-era Japanese dance-theater art form that blends German expressionism, mime, and European philosophy to explore taboo subjects through dance.
For Mulinix, discovering Butoh during her undergraduate studies was transformative. “My body said, this is home,” she shared.
As an artist-in-residence at Windmill Arts, Mulinix is dedicated to building Atlanta’s Butoh community from the ground up, educating audiences about its history and global significance. Her work aims to transform emotion into experience, creating visceral performances that resonate deeply with performers and audiences alike.
Advertisement
Burning Bones Physical Theatre has an exciting 2025 season planned, with more information at Frankie Mulinix’s website here.
Atlanta Hawks (20-19, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (18-22, 10th in the Eastern Conference)
Chicago; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulls -2; over/under is 245
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta visits the Chicago Bulls after Trae Young scored 43 points in the Hawks’ 122-117 win against the Phoenix Suns.
Advertisement
The Bulls are 15-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Chicago is 10-13 in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Hawks are 13-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is eighth in the league scoring 17.2 fast break points per game. Jalen Johnson leads the Hawks averaging 3.6.
The Bulls average 118.1 points per game, 1.7 fewer points than the 119.8 the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 13.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than the Bulls allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nikola Vucevic is averaging 20.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Bulls.
Johnson is scoring 19.8 points per game and averaging 10.1 rebounds for the Hawks.
Advertisement
LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 5-5, averaging 120.7 points, 48.1 rebounds, 30.8 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.8 points per game.
Hawks: 6-4, averaging 120.2 points, 42.5 rebounds, 29.8 assists, 11.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.4 points.
INJURIES: Bulls: Adama Sanogo: day to day (knee), Torrey Craig: day to day (leg), Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (achilles).
Hawks: Kobe Bufkin: out for season (shoulder), Larry Nance Jr.: out (hand), Jalen Johnson: day to day (shoulder), Cody Zeller: day to day (personal), De’Andre Hunter: day to day (foot).
___
Advertisement
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Clear and cold overnight with lows in the 20s to low 30s in town. Sunny and cool Wednesday afternoon. Milder by the end of the week and rain for Saturday. Here is the latest.
ATLANTA – Residents across Georgia can expect a mix of rain, cold, and the possibility of snowflakes in the coming days as winter weather patterns continue to shift.
Advertisement
What we know:
According to FOX 5 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist David Chandley, widespread rain is forecast for the weekend, with extreme northern areas possibly seeing snowflakes late Sunday into Monday. Significant snow accumulation is not expected.
“Yeah, this go-around into the weekend, really, we’re just going to see some rain across North Georgia,” Chandley stated. He added that next week’s forecast remains uncertain, with Arctic air potentially influencing weather conditions. “We’ve got a whole week to kind of hash that out. All the things can change.”
Advertisement
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday will likely be chilly but dry for much of Georgia. “It’s going to be chilly, but it looks like dry conditions for the MLK holiday celebration,” Chandley explained.
In metro Atlanta, Tuesday could bring a slight chance of wintry precipitation as temperatures drop. “January is very active, no doubt about it,” Chandley noted.
Advertisement
Metro Atlanta forecast
Tonight: Partly cloudy, low near 30°F.
Wednesday: Sunny, high around 48°F.
Thursday: Sunny, breezy, high near 53°F.
Friday Night to Saturday: Rain moves in late Friday, with showers likely Saturday. Highs in the mid-50s.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, high near 48°F. A few snowflakes possible in extreme North Georgia late.
MLK Day (Monday): Mostly sunny, high near 37°F. A slight chance of rain or snow.
Extreme North Georgia Mountains forecast
Tonight: Partly cloudy, low near 20°F.
Wednesday: Sunny, high near 42°F.
Thursday: Sunny, breezy, high near 46°F.
Friday Night to Saturday: Showers likely Friday night into Saturday, high near 49°F.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, low near 20°F.
MLK Day (Monday): Slight chance of snow, mostly sunny, high near 34°F.
Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the snow should move out before noon for the swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill. Highs will be in the 20s and lows will be around 12 degrees under mostly cloudy skies.
Advertisement
Possible snow in Georgia?
What we don’t know:
While the immediate forecast is becoming clearer, there is still uncertainty surrounding next week’s weather patterns. FOX 5 Meteorologist Jonathan Stacey highlighted the potential for snow but emphasized that forecasts remain in flux. “I know many of you are thinking about some snow because you’re hearing about some snow,” Stacey said. “At this point, all we can do is just pay attention and see what’s out there. As we get closer, we’ll look for consistency.”
Advertisement
Key questions remain:
Will Arctic air and other weather systems converge to create snow across Georgia?
How might fluctuating temperatures impact the likelihood of wintry precipitation?
Will it snow in Atlanta again?
The temperature is expected to take a plunge this weekend, with wet weather on the way. How likely is it that this precipitation will turn into snow? Here’s a look ahead with FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Jonathan Stacey.
Advertisement
Snow next week?
Timeline:
Here is a look at the timeline of weather for the next week:
Advertisement
Tuesday: Slight chance of wintry precipitation in metro Atlanta as temperatures drop.
Friday Night to Saturday: Rain moves into the region.
Sunday to Monday: Snowflakes possible in extreme North Georgia; the rest of the state remains chilly with mostly dry conditions.
MLK Day: Chilly but dry conditions for holiday celebrations.
What’s next:
Meteorologists will continue monitoring weather models throughout the week. Residents are encouraged to stay updated via trusted local forecasts, including FOX 5, and prepare for any changes in the weather as Arctic air moves closer. “All we can do is just pay attention,” Jonathan Stacey advised, underscoring the importance of staying alert to new developments.
The Source: This article is sourced from original forecasting by the FOX 5 Storm Team.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25822586/STK169_ZUCKERBERG_MAGA_STKS491_CVIRGINIA_A.jpg "Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25821992/videoframe_720397.png "Las Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosion")
