NBA Matchups: January 2

SAS @ IND | BKN @ WAS | DEN @ CLE | ATL @ NYK | ORL @ CHI | CHA @ MIL | POR @ NOP | SAC @ PHX | OKC @ GSW | MEM @ LAL

San Antonio Spurs (front end) at Indiana Pacers

Team Totals: Spurs 122.3, Pacers 115.8

Injury Report: Devin Vassell (O, groin), Victor Wembanyama (O, knee), T.J. McConnell (P, hamstring)

Spurs projected starters: De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet

Pacers projected starters: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff

Mitch quotes: Said he felt good that Wemby was on the bench with his teammates (got hurt in the second half), said they responded with energy in the right areas in the second half, said they had “sharp execution” especially in the fourth quarter, said Champagnie has been rebounding well and his defense has been “mostly pretty good,” said Fox was “phenomenal” and he’s been playing excellent defense.

Carlisle quotes: Said in the second half they “played like a together team, and not like strangers,” said they have “too much petty nonsense” going on and he didn’t want to share the details, said they have to be more connected, said he would like to have Micah Parsons on the team right now (a reporter slipped up on naming Micah Potter), said Sheppard “is an NBA player” and he plays the right way for them.

Stats and Notes: 

*Victor Wembanyama’s injury will be the story here, but either way, the Spurs have been a solid on-ball defense, ranking eighth in the NBA. They’re one of the best teams on the boards, and they limit transition, so it’s just tougher for secondary players to really get going against them. For the Pacers, the frustration of losing is starting to mount based on Rick Carlisle’s most emphatic presser of the year. This team is last in offense, and they aren’t getting much better, even with players coming back from injury. They have been able to take away the 3-point line, but keeping teams off the boards continues to be a problem. The Pacers also just gave up the fewest C&S 3PAs per game in December. This is likely a blowout regardless of Wemby’s status.

*De’Aaron Fox will get Andrew Nembhard for a somewhat tougher 1-on-1 matchup, but the Pacers have been getting beaten up pretty good in PNR. With Stephon Castle’s thumb bothering him, it sets up great for Fox.

*Stephon Castle had a big tape job on his thumb last game, and it may have affected him. I’d be cautious about deploying him with a tough matchup against Aaron Nesmith anyway. Luke Kornet is also back in play against a porous interior defense. I don’t think Julian Champagnie runs it back after his 11 threes, and the Pacers do take away 3-pointers now.

*Pascal Siakam should get a favorable matchup with some of the Indiana guards in tougher spots. It’s not an ideal matchup for him because Kornet is a good rim protector, but he is still the best option here.

*Andrew Nembhard also has an OK matchup with likely De’Aaron Fox on him, and I would expect Stephon Castle on Bennedict Mathurin to give him the toughest matchup.

Great matchups: Luke Kornet, Pascal Siakam

Good matchups: De’Aaron Fox

Bad matchups: Stephon Castle, Bennedict Mathurin

Brooklyn Nets (back end) at Washington Wizards