The Indiana Pacers will try to use the Charlotte Hornets to bring things back together after suffering one of the worst losses in franchise history on Sunday.
The Indiana Pacers already hit rock bottom. The 46-point loss against the Raptors could define the rest of the season, but tonight’s game against the Hornets give Indiana a chance to show who they really are. The Hornets still have an outside chance at the East’s eight seed (they’re 5.5 games back with 26 games remaining) so they have yet to hit full tank mode.
The Pacers still have not found anything out since Victor Oladipo‘s return. From player rotations to on-court synergy to the loss of Jeremy Lamb to a knee injury, nothing has gone right over the past three-plus weeks. Since January 29, Indiana has the 28th ranked offense and are 25th in net rating. Everything seems disjointed on the scoring end, but Charlottes’s 26th ranked defense could allow things to open up.
The Hornets have been keeping their playoff hopes alive by beating up on the league’s other bottom dwellers. Of their 19 wins this season, only two of them are against teams currently in the playoffs. Unfortunately, one of those two wins was against the Pacers back in November. Charlotte is a young team struggling on both ends of the floor (27th ranked offense and 26th ranked defense on the season), and have few bright spots this season outside of the emergence of Devonte’ Graham.
This should still be a winnable game even after Sunday. The Hornets score the fewest points per game in the league and also the lowest field goal percentage. Everything is set up for the Pacers to get another win much like the Knicks game right after the All-Star break. It may not be a super meaningful win, but at this point, the Blue and Gold will take whatever they can get.
Here is everything else you need to know going in:
The Indiana Pacers Odds Against the Charlotte Hornets
Odds courtesy of The Action Network, current as of 3:00 pm EST.
Time, Streaming Options, Ticketing
Indiana Pacers vs. Charlotte Hornets – Tuesday, Feb. 25 @ 7:00 pm EST
Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
TV: FSIND (Indiana), FSSE-CHA (Charlotte)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 FM The Fan (Indiana), WFNZ 610 AM/102.5 FM (Charlotte)
Online Streaming: fuboTV, NBA League Pass
Tickets: StubHub
Injury Report
Indiana Pacers
Out: Jeremy Lamb (Torn Left ACL, Torn Lateral Meniscus, and Lateral Femoral Condylar Fracture)
Questionable: Edmond Sumner (Sore Left Hip), Victor Oladipo (Sore Lower Back)
Charlotte Hornets
N/A
*Both reports via NBA.com
*Injuries will be updated as they are made available