Aaron Nesmith had a good look for the win in Dallas. (Photo: MavsTV)
There’s no place like home — at least that’s what the Indiana Pacers have to be thinking.
They’re back in Indianapolis following a three-game road trip out west. Now one week into the regular season, they’re one of just three NBA teams still searching for a win at 0-4 — along with the Nets and Pelicans.
They hope to change that on Friday when the Atlanta Hawks visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse to open NBA Cup pool play.
Four-time All-Star Trae Young has already been ruled out after leaving Wednesday’s game early with a right knee sprain. He was limited to just seven minutes in that one.
As for the Pacers, their injury report remains lengthy.
Two players have been upgraded from out to questionable ahead of Friday’s game: Johnny Furphy and Taelon Peter.
Furphy, a second-year player, now has his injury listed as a bone bruise in his left foot. Peter, meanwhile, has been sidelined by a sore right groin.
The Pacers also updated forward Obi Toppin’s injury to a stress reaction in his right foot. Uh oh. That’s a concerning development. He’s expected to be out for at least a month.
In the meantime, everyone else will have to elevate their play while six other players remain sidelined. The team added guard Mac McClung on a rest-of-season deal before Wednesday’s loss in Dallas.
The Pacers had one of their worst shooting performances in recent memory, held to 34.9% from the field — yet still had a chance to win on the final possession. RayJ Dennis perfectly executed a missed second free throw, and the rebound was scooped up by Aaron Nesmith, who then missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer from the right arc. Nesmith finished 2 for 16 overall, including 1 of 9 from deep.
So close, but not good enough.
“The last play — it was a great job by our guys,” head coach Rick Carlisle said postgame. “Just unlucky. They [Mavs] had some good fortune on that.”
