Portland Trail Blazers Aim for Third Consecutive Victory Over Pacers

Portland Trail Blazers Look to Extend Winning Streak Over Indiana Pacers

On Wednesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers are set to face off against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, marking the third consecutive meeting between the two teams. The Blazers, who have struggled in recent outings, will look to bounce back from a heavy defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Pacers will be aiming to build on their momentum after a nail-biting win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Portland has historically dominated the series, winning both matchups last season, including a tight 118-115 victory at home in late January. However, the Pacers have shown signs of improvement this year, making for a highly anticipated showdown.

Blazers Seek Redemption After Struggles on the Road

Portland’s recent form has been a mixed bag, as they enter this game with a 7-11 record, sitting fourth in the competitive Northwest Division. Their latest loss came in a disappointing 123-98 blowout to Memphis on Monday, where they failed to cover the spread as 10.5-point underdogs.

From the opening tip, the Blazers struggled to find their rhythm. Memphis jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, and Portland never fully recovered. By halftime, the Blazers were down by 11 points, and despite a brief rally early in the third quarter, the Grizzlies dominated the game. Portland shot a dismal 33.3% from the floor, including an abysmal 8-of-46 from beyond the arc, and were out-rebounded 60-44.

Despite the loss, Deni Avdija had a solid performance off the bench, contributing 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Portland’s offensive woes have been a recurring issue all season, ranking 28th in field goal percentage (41.9%) and 30th in three-point shooting (32.2%). Their inability to efficiently score the basketball will need to be addressed if they are to compete with Indiana’s high-powered offense.

Notably, key players like Deandre Ayton, Scoot Henderson, and Jerami Grant have struggled with injuries, further complicating Portland’s efforts. Grant (knee) and Robert Williams III (concussion) both left Monday’s game early, and their availability will be crucial for the Blazers’ success.

Pacers Look to Keep Momentum After Narrow Win Over Pelicans

The Indiana Pacers (8-10) are also in the hunt for a much-needed win to climb up the standings in the Central Division, where they sit third. Their last game, a 114-110 win against New Orleans, marked their second consecutive victory after a strong showing against the Washington Wizards. However, their win over the Pelicans was anything but smooth sailing. After leading by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, the Pacers allowed New Orleans to claw back and trim their lead to just one point with under two minutes left in the game.

The Pacers shot 47.3% from the field and drained 17 three-pointers, but their defense remains a concern, ranking 25th in the league in points allowed (117.7). Despite this, Tyrese Haliburton played at an MVP-caliber level, posting 34 points and 13 assists to lead the Pacers to victory. Haliburton has been stellar all season, averaging 16.8 points and 8.8 assists per game, and he will be key in orchestrating the offense against Portland.

Indiana’s offense is potent, ranking 12th in scoring with 114.4 points per game, and they boast the third-best field goal percentage in the league (48.6%). However, their rebounding has been a major weakness, ranking 27th with just 40.3 boards per contest. That could play into Portland’s favor if they can exploit the Pacers’ lack of size in the paint.

In addition to Haliburton, the Pacers have received solid contributions from Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Bennedict Mathurin. Siakam, who was acquired from Toronto, has averaged 20.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and will be another focal point for Indiana’s offense.

Despite their strong offensive numbers, the Pacers have been riddled with injuries. James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson are both out for the season, while Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard are all dealing with injuries that have kept them sidelined or limited.

Conclusion

Portland will need to play much better offensively to compete with the Pacers, especially if they continue to struggle with injuries. While Indiana’s defense has not been elite, their offensive firepower led by Haliburton and Siakam should give them the edge in this matchup. With both teams looking to bounce back, this game is likely to be a high-scoring affair, but ultimately, the Pacers’ depth and scoring ability will likely prove too much for the Blazers.

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