Thunder Gameday: OKC Heads to Indianapolis to Take on the Pacers
After dropping two games to Eastern Conference playoff teams, yet again the Oklahoma City Thunder will need to face another one while being undermanned.
It's been a difficult week for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After defeating the New York Knicks on Sunday in a down-to-the-wire contest, it has lost two straight games to the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, with the latter coming as a 35-point loss. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have been absent in those losses due to injury, making it hard to get wins on a tough Eastern Conference trip.
Tonight won't be any easier against a No. 6-seeded Indiana Pacers, led by one of the brightest young guards in the NBA — Tyrese Haliburton. He's averaging 20 points and 11 assists per game this season, fully coming into his own as a floor general and scoring threat.
Gilgeous-Alexander is certainly out and Williams more than likely will have the same status, but the Thunder will need to do all it can to escape Indianapolis with a win and climb back up the Western Conference ladder.
ODDS:
The Thunder enter the day as 4.5-point underdogs against the Pacers, and the total over/under is 235.5 points.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Oklahoma City was without Williams in its last matchup against Indiana on March 12, losing 121-111. Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 30 points and 10 assists, but Myles Turner's 24 points along with higher shooting efficiency pushed the Pacers ahead.
With such a limited lineup now, the Thunder will have to try all it can to figure out how to effectively play without its two top scoring options. Josh Giddey and Chet Holmgren have done relatively well to step up in their absence, but they'll need to produce more to match what Haliburton, Turner and Pascal Siakam can do.
Oklahoma City has struggled immensely from the 3-point line in its last two games, so that will a key piece to the likelihood of it winning the game. Pieces like Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Joe will have to make an impact there and help space the floor for an undermanned roster.
The Pacers can also make teams pay from behind the arc — shooting 37.4% on the season — so the Thunder will be required to hold them well defensively. Aaron Newsmith is a key piece on their roster to watch out for, currently averaging 12.1 points per game on 42.5% shooting from three.
RECORDS:
Oklahoma City Thunder (52-24) at Indiana Pacers (43-34)
INJURIES:
Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.
WHEN:
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 6 p.m. CT
LOCATION:
Gainbridge Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN
TV/Radio:
NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start Your Free Trial)
FINAL WORD:
The Thunder has lots of issues to overcome in another tough matchup against a team in the East, but a win could be vitally important in its search to reach the top spot in the West once again.
Oklahoma City will remain on the road to meet the Charlotte Hornets (18-58) on Sunday, April 7 at 5 p.m. CT, meeting previous Thunder including Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic and Davis Bertans.
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