The Indiana Pacers announced their preseason schedule on Wednesday, including their two NBA India Games against the Sacramento Kings in Mumbai.
The final piece of the puzzle is now here, as we know the slate of games the Indiana Pacers will play before embarking on the regular season. They announced their preseason schedule early Wednesday afternoon:
OFFICIAL: Following the #NBAIndiaGames vs. the @SacramentoKings, we return home to face the @chicagobulls and @Timberwolves to close out the preseason.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) August 14, 2019
More Info >> https://t.co/O5soTs5p1c pic.twitter.com/4g0n0lsv4e
The first half of the docket includes the previously announced NBA India Games against the Sacramento Kings. The contests, which will be held at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai, are the first NBA games to ever be played in India.
Some new information we received was the start time. Since Mumbai is a full nine and a half hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, it’ll be an early morning for Pacers fans. Each game tips off at 9:30 a.m. EST, though luckily the latter game is on Saturday.
International games aren’t new for Indiana, as they’ve played preseason games in Germany, Spain, Taiwan, China, and the Philippines in the past.
It’ll be an interesting first test for the new-look Pacers, with Malcolm Brogdon matched up against De’Aaron Fox, and the debut of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis as the starting fronctourt contending with Marvin Bagley.
For those worried that their overseas trip would mean another year of no home games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the announcement comes as a relief. The second half of their preseason schedule is comprised of two contests in Indianapolis, one against the Chicago Bulls and the other the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Pacers fans can expect to see a familiar face during their matchup against the Bulls, as Thaddeus Young will take on the TurBonis frontcourt in the stadium he spent the last three years playing for. Chicago’s core of young wings and guards should also prove a good preseason challenge for Indiana’s new acquisitions.
Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves will be the biggest challenge for Sabonis and Turner defensively, and should be a fun final tune-up before their first regular season game on October 23rd.
With the preseason schedule now announced, we have all of the information of what’s ahead for Indiana. And in just under two months, we’ll finally be watching Pacers basketball again.