@tonyreast.bsky.social
Indiana Pacers + NBA and Indiana Fever + WNBA beat writer. Now: Forbes Sports, The IX, and independently for Circle City Spin. Past: SB Nation, On SI, B/R, and more. Host Locked On Pacers and Locked On NBA. https://www.circlecityspin.com/
Mike Muscala was the Lakers acquisition when they sent Ivica Zubac to the Clippers in 2019. So how fitting that for Zubac's Pacer debut, Muscala was sitting in the second row as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns.
That and many more details contained within:
New Indiana Fever practice facility construction update:
Inside Ivica Zubac's Pacers debut: What he showed, how he did it, the little moments you didn't see, and what comes next: www.circlecityspin.com/what-the-ind...
Ivica Zubac debuted for the Pacers. On what he did show (when's the last time someone did that for the Pacers??) and didn't and what is next for him. Plus, other Pacers-Suns stuff.
Listen: locked-on-pacers-daily-podcast-on-the-indiana-pacers.simplecast.com
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXVo...
Jackson and Siakam doubtful, Nembhard and Zubac questionable, Toppin Nesmith and McConnell probable for tonight vs Knicks.
We didn't get time with Ivica Zubac postgame, but here is our very short convo with him pregame about his ankle in full: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zogG...
I asked Rick Carlisle about Andrew Nembhard only playing the first half tonight. He noted “They were just going to play one half” re: him and Zubac. Obviously prudent to have that be the same half.
His career percentage from deep isn't good, but it had jumped just below average this year. I haven't seen misses that ugly before in the G.
Suns beat the Pacers 123-108. This one was close often, even in the fourth quarter, but Devin Booker scored 43 and the Suns put it away late. Pacers have lost 11 in a row and fall to 15-51. Ivica Zubac debut: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists in 16 minutes.
This is Jalen Slawson's first NBA game with more than 12 minutes of play time. Still 1:09 left, but he's got 10 points, 8 boards, and 5 assists. He was filling up the stat sheet similarly with the Boom. 3/9 could be better, but a tidy home debut.
Yeah, he looked quite capable. Credit.
VERY small Pacers lineup here. Their three two-way guys + Kam Jones and Kobe Brown. So it's Jones-Thompson-Peter-Slawson-Brown.
Wedgie!!! On a corner 3!!!!
10-4 Suns run to start the fourth quarter. Pacers now down 14 with about nine minutes left. Carlisle calls timeout.
Suns 96, Pacers 88 after three quarters. Devin Booker is taking over and up to 41 points, but Pacers deserve credit for keeping this one close-ish without so many top guys. Good quarters from Slawson, Sheppard, and Huff.
Jalen Green goes for an insane dunk and just missed it. A few bobbles later and Micah Potter gets his own dunk on the other end. Fun sequence.
Jalen Slawson grabs rebound number 4. He now is posting his career high in points (7), rebounds (4), and assists (5) tonight all at once.
Probably his best pass ever?
Quenton Jackson, Tyrese Haliburton, and T.J. McConnell all out. Nembhard appears to not be playing this half. So as Kam Jones ends his rotation, Pacers backcourt is Sheppard, Peter, and Slawson.
Ben Sheppard with two straight nice buckets, a stop on Booker, and a half-look dart of a pass to Micah Potter for a finish. Pacers have cut their deficit to 4.
Says someone who has never made it...
Looks like the Pacers are starting Jones, Thompson, Brown, Walker, and Huff for the second half. So no Nembhard OR Zubac.
1 minute left during halftime and no Ivica Zubac out on the court for warmups.
Jay Huff just a little too late on his end of half dunk attempt. It's Suns 67, Pacers 61 at halftime. First half for Ivica Zubac: 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Andrew Nembhard: 23 points, 2 assists
Devin Booker: 22 points, 3 assists
Pacers still can't guard at all but Andrew Nembhard looks great. Up to 18 points and it's still the first half. He just drew a foul heading into this stoppage and will take three free throws.
10-0 Suns run in about two minutes and this game has broken open. It's 58-44 Phoenix.
Three fouls on Kobe Brown. Jalen Slawson back in. Pacers without a ton of wing options tonight so foul trouble is extra difficult.
It's already over LOL
Jalen Slawson has now missed a two-point shot.
Jalen Green missed 3 at the buzzer and it's 36-36 after one quarter of Pacers-Suns. Both teams near 60% from the field and one turnovers each. Points, points points. Nembhard has 11, Booker has 15.
Ivica Zubac: Two points, three rebounds, one assist.