2 Pacers who must bounce back after preseason opener vs. Hawks

Last night, the Indiana Pacers saw their first piece of NBA action since the Eastern Conference Finals in their preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks. Despite a wild and devastating end to the loss, the Pacers had a lot to be excited about overall. However, there are still a few Pacers who must perform better and bounce back tomorrow night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

1. Bennedict Mathurin

Mathurin gets a little bit of a pass considering that last night was his first NBA game action since March. However, rusty or not, the third-year player still left much to be desired on the court.

In the loss, Mathurin played 20 minutes, tied for most on the team with Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard. Additionally, he recorded 8 points on 2-for-7 shooting, including 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. Mathurin also recorded three assists, two rebounds, two turnovers, and three fouls. All things considered, the Pacers were hoping for more out of the Canadian native.

However, not all was bad for Mathurin. He impressed as a passer and playmaker, most notably with this alley-oop to Obi Toppin.

Overall, it is too soon to call for the Pacers to move on Mathurin or decrease his minutes in the rotation. However, considering that he is a potential trade candidate for the team this year, it is crucial that Mathurin bounces back sooner rather than later.

2. Jarace Walker

After a disappointing rookie season last year, there were high hopes for Walker heading into preseason. He looked good in Summer League, has been a mentee to Pascal Siakam, and seemingly has the mindset to improve and become a contributor in Indiana. However, things did not go so well for the 21-year-old against the Hawks.

In 20 minutes of play, Walker scored eight points on 3-for-6 shooting and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc. He also recorded three rebounds, three assists, two steals, a block, and two turnovers. While this was not necessarily a bad game statistically, it is a bit disappointing given that Walker is essentially fighting for his spot on the Pacers roster.

Furthermore, arguably his biggest weakness during his rookie season was his defense. He looked lost on that side of the ball, despite coming into the league with a lot of potential as a defender. In the loss to Atlanta, Walker showed little improvement in this area.

Like Mathurin, Walker is a potential trade candidate for the team. If he wants to remain in Indiana and become a mainstay in the rotation, he needs to figure things out quickly.