The 15-55 Indiana Pacers are coming to town to take on the Spurs fresh off of San Antonio clinching their first playoff berth since 2019.
SAN ANTONIO — Thanks to a game-winning shot from Victor Wembanyama against the Suns, the Spurs are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Sitting at 52-18, San Antonio is comfortably sitting at the No. 2 seed in the West. They are currently three games back from the No. 1 seed (55-15 Thunder) and seven games ahead of the No. 3 seed (45-25 Lakers), so if things hold it looks like they’ll be sticking at the No. 2 seed.
Winners of four in a row, the Spurs look to continue their winning ways against the team with the worst record in the league in the Indiana Pacers.
Despite the fact that they were one game away from winning the NBA Finals last season, Tyrese Haliburton’s injury has caused the Pacers to pace back to the bottom of the standings this year. And in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft class, it might not be a bad idea.
The Pacers resemble a team many San Antonio fans know well: their own Spurs.
David Robinson getting injured during the 1996-97 season caused the Spurs to end with the third worst record in the league, ultimately winning the 1998 NBA Draft Lottery and Tim Duncan.
With a healthy Robinson and Duncan, the rest is golden history in the Alamo City.
The Pacers are similar: They’re coming off a very good run in the 2024-25 season where they made the Finals, barely losing to OKC. However they lost their best player to a serious injury, which has resulted in them being bottom feeders, in position to draft someone very high in the 2026 NBA Draft.
And with Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybansta on the board, the Pacers may think they can find their Tim Duncan to put them over the hump.
But right now, however, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to say that the Spurs are heavily favored to win this regular season game in March.
Aside from Stephon Castle still being questionable with a hip injury, the Spurs are completely healthy. Compare that to the Pacers’ laundry list of an injury report and they clearly have the advantage.
The last and only time these two teams played this season the Spurs won 123-113 on Jan. 2 without Wemby. In that game, De’Aaron Fox scored 24 points while Dylan Harper had 22 off the bench.
Oh yeah, the Pacers have lost 15 games in a row. The Spurs have won 20 of their last 22.
Math says the Spurs should take this one, but we are in March, and madness does happen, especially on the basketball court.
How to watch
The game will be televised on FanDuel Southwest at 7 p.m. Saturday. You can also listen to game action on WOAI 1200 and KXTN 1350.
Team stats leaders (as of Tuesday night)
- POINTS: Victor Wembanyama (24.3), De’Aaron Fox (19.0), Stephon Castle (16.5)
- REBOUNDS: Wembanyama (11.1), Luke Kornet (6.2), Julian Champagnie (5.7)
- ASSISTS: Castle (7.1), Fox (6.2), Dylan Harper (3.8)
- BLOCKS: Wembanyama (3.0), Kornet (1.1), Champagnie (0.5)
- POINTS: Pascal Siakam (24), Andrew Nembhard (17), Aaron Nesmith (13.6)
- REBOUNDS: Ivica Zubac (7.2 in 5 games), Siakam (6.7), Jarace Walker (5.2)
- ASSISTS: Nembhard (7.3), T.J. McConnell (5.1), Siakam (3.9)
- BLOCKS: Jay Huff (1.9), Jalen Slawson (1.6 in 5 games), Zubac (0.8)
Injury report
As of Wednesday afternoon, Stephon Castle is questionable due to a hip injury.
For the Pacers, Obi Toppin (foot), Micah Potter (triceps), Ben Sheppard (ankle), T.J. McConnell (hamstring) and Quenton Jackson (calf) are all questionable.
Five more things to know
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Ivica Zubac, who was traded to the Pacers from the Clippers at the trade deadline, is averaging 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in five games for Indiana.
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The Pacers allow the fourth most points a game in the NBA (121).
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Indiana allows the least amount of 3-pointers made a game however (tied with the Magic at 11.9 a game).
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The Pacers lose by 8.9 points a game. The Spurs win by 7.2 points a game.
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Indiana has the second worst rebound differential a game, being outrebounded by 4.8 a game.