Rick Carlisle’s Milestone Pursuit as Pacers Face Struggling Wizards
The Eastern Conference features an intriguing clash on Sunday afternoon as two of its lowest-performing teams, the Indiana Pacers and the Washington Wizards, prepare to meet. This matchup holds particular significance for Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who stands on the verge of becoming the 11th coach in NBA history to reach the coveted milestone of 1,000 regular-season wins.
Pacers’ Resilience Amidst Challenges
In his second tenure with the Pacers, Carlisle finds himself navigating a challenging landscape. The team is grappling with injuries that have tested its depth, particularly following a promising run that took them to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000. Despite these setbacks, the Pacers have shown resilience by winning consecutive games to finish November, moving past a dismal 1-13 start. In fact, they have managed to secure victories in four of their last seven outings, signaling a potential turnaround.
However, the Wizards are eager to avoid becoming Carlisle’s 1,000th victory. Currently, they are struggling with a dismal record this season, posting a mere three wins out of 23 games. Their lone road victory came against the Dallas Mavericks on October 24, and after an unexpected upset against the Milwaukee Bucks, they find themselves on a four-game losing streak.
Game Details and Broadcast Information
Game Date and Time: Sunday, December 14, 3:10 p.m. EST
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Indiana (Pacers), Monumental Sports Network (Wizards)
Radio: 1070 The Fan (Pacers), 106.7 The Fan (Wizards)
A Renewed Rivalry
This matchup marks the second encounter between the Pacers (6-19) and the Wizards (3-20) in a span of just three weeks. These teams first faced off in the NBA Cup, where the Wizards managed to hand the Pacers their only defeat in that tournament. On November 28, the Pacers dominated the Wizards, winning 119-86, with Pascal Siakam leading the charge with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
As the season progresses, this will be the final meeting at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but the two teams are set to clash again on consecutive nights in Washington, D.C., on February 19-20, right after the All-Star break. Historically, the Pacers have enjoyed success against the Wizards, winning six straight encounters and boasting a 7-1 record in their last eight meetings dating back to the start of the current season. The Pacers also lead the all-time series with a commanding 112-27 advantage since their move from the ABA in 1976.
Betting Insights
According to betting lines from DraftKings, the Pacers are favored to win by 9.5 points, with a moneyline of -410, while the Wizards sit at +320. The total points line is set at 223.5, reflecting expectations of a competitive contest.
Projected Starters
Wizards
– F Kyshawn George
– F Justin Champagnie
– C Marvin Bagley Jr.
– G Bub Carrington
– G CJ McCollum
Pacers
– F Bennedict Mathurin
– F Pascal Siakam
– C Jay Huff
– G Andrew Nembhard
– G Ethan Thompson
Injury Report
Wizards
Alex Sarr: Out – Right Adductor Strain
Bilal Coulibaly: Out – Right Oblique Strain
Khris Middleton: Out – Right Knee Contusion
Corey Kispert: Out – Right Thumb Fracture
Malaki Branham: Out – Right Thumb Sprain
Sharife Cooper: Out – G League (Two-way)
AJ Johnson: Out – G League (On assignment)
Pacers
Andrew Nembhard: Questionable – Left Calf Soreness
Tony Bradley: Questionable – Left Quad Strain
Moritz Wagner: Out – Left Knee injury recovery
Tyrese Haliburton: Out – Right Achilles Tendon tear
Aaron Nesmith: Out – Left Knee MCL Sprain
Obi Toppin: Out – Right Foot Stress Fracture
Ben Sheppard: Out – Left Calf Strain
Kam Jones: Doubtful – G League (On assignment)
Coaching Insights
As the game approaches, Rick Carlisle expressed his frustrations regarding officiating in a recent matchup against Philadelphia, stating, “Can I say that we could’ve gotten a few calls without being fined $40,000? There were a couple of calls that I thought we could’ve gotten. I’m gonna fight for our guys. Our guys have been up against it all year, fighting hard, crunch time game, every play is meaningful.”
As the Pacers aim for victory and Carlisle seeks that milestone win, the stakes are high for both teams in this critical matchup.
