Larry Nance Jr. got his first minutes as a Pacer. Rick Carlisle: "we needed to get Larry acclimated, get him back out there in a real game. So he did well." He listed Nance with Ivica Zubac, Obi Toppin and Jay Huff as frontcourt options, Nance able to play some power forward.
Braden Smith said he should have taken the baseline mid-range jumper on Indiana's final play, not the up-and-under he missed with a chance to tie or lead: "the shot I've honestly kind of made a living on." Teammates want him "super aggressive," at T.J. McConnell's pace.
A lot of players will tell you that they want to run, they want to play fast. Until they find out what the commitment is... from a conditioning standpoint.
Kelly Oubre Jr., now an Indiana starter, is still adjusting to the pace. Rick Carlisle: "A lot of players will tell you that they want to run, they want to play fast. Until they find out what the commitment is... from a conditioning standpoint." He said Oubre is doing well.
Indiana's Ivica Zubac on his first game beside Tyrese Haliburton, back after a year out: "A lot of the possessions, I felt like I was kind of in the way." Surprised by the pace, he says he held screens too long while Haliburton waited for him to roll.