The 2018-19 Indiana Pacers schedule is out, with the team receiving 12 nationally televised games. Which ones look like the best?
What is a better way to signal how close the next NBA and Indiana Pacers season is getting than the 2018-19 schedules coming out?
The NBA schedules don’t mean a ton, as we already know teams play each two times minimum and four times max. But timing matters and national TV games matter!
After just having one national appearance last season, national fans will get to see Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner, and friends 12 total times. Eight games will appear on ESPN, three on TNT, and one on ABC.
In those games, the Pacers will see Philadelphia four times, New York twice, Boston once, Milwaukee once, Portland once, Oklahoma City once, Washington once, and Minnesota once.
Which games look the most and least exciting? Let’s start from the bottom and work our way up.
12. At New York Knicks — Friday, Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
The Knicks may be more fun this season, but who really knows. There is a chance Kristaps Porzingis will still be on the shelf after tearing his ACL last season and that really saps all the hope away of New York being competitive.
That being said, it is also exciting seeing your team play at Madison Square Garden. And, who knows, maybe forward Kevin Knox has a Jayson Tatum-like rookie season and can get the Pacers’ attention.
11. At New York Knicks — Wednesday, October 31, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN)
I’m sorry, I’m just really not a believer in the Knicks this season. Porzingis definitely won’t be available on Halloween night, meaning Indiana could really run away with this one.
It will be Halloween, though, and it’s in MSG again. There’s some optimism for you.
10. At Washington Wizards — Wednesday, January 30, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN)
The Wizards are going to be an interesting watch this season. John Wall’s attitude seems to stir things up every year. Throw Dwight Howard into that equation and…man. That could produce some entertaining content — in a good and bad way.
Washington shouldn’t have a problem being competitive this season, but I don’t know. It isn’t much different here. Nothing really catches my interest.
9. At Portland Trail Blazers — Monday, March 18, 10:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
It is almost impossible for the guard duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum to not be entertaining. But how many losses have the Pacers taken in Portland over the years? Seems like a lot, eh?
Indiana hasn’t beaten the Blazers in Portland since Nov. 28, 2007.
TWO-THOUSAND-AND-SEVEN.
Maybe the streak is finally broken, but you could probably sleep through this one, wake up, and not be surprised by the results.
8. Philadelphia 76ers — Wednesday, November 7, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN)
This will be the first of four nationally televised against Philadelphia alone. Last season, Indiana’s three-game series against the Sixers was competitive — with Indiana taking the series 2-1 with an even point-differential.
Philly probably had more talent than Indiana last season and still may now, but the Pacers matched up well with them and were able to win the final two games of the series. This first game will be a good showing for just how close the teams are.
7. At Philadelphia 76ers — Friday, December 14, 7:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Whoever loses the first matchup should have this game marked on its calendar. These two teams could be close in playoff seeding by the end of the season, and dropping this series could hurt by April.
Indiana better win the first matchup, because that Philly crowd should be wild.
6. Philadelphia 76ers — Thursday, January 17, 7 p.m. EST (TNT)
Man, they really play each other four times on national television. That is actually going to happen.
The appeal is there. This matchup should be fun, and the teams should be close to each other in the standings all season long. But, wow. Four times.
This is Indiana’s first game on TNT, however, so there’s that!