The last time the Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the Indiana Pacers, the Thunder left the court with the city’s first NBA championship after their Game 7 win.
Now, just a day over seven months since Oklahoma City’s 103-91 win, the teams meet again Friday on opposite ends of the league’s spectrum.
The Thunder, with mostly the same roster as last season, look capable of winning a second consecutive title. They sport the NBA’s best record, having won back-to-back games and seven of their last eight.
The Pacers, with a much different roster than last year, own the Eastern Conference’s worst record while losing 17 of their last 21.
Indiana’s path was expected to be tough this season, what with Tyrese Haliburton sustaining a torn Achilles early in that Game 7 loss that will keep the All-Star point guard out for the whole season.
The Pacers have dropped their last three games by an average of 22.3 points, including a 43-point loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
“We need to keep competing and executing no matter what the score is, whether we’re ahead or behind,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “That’s the deal.”
Despite the team’s struggles, Pascal Siakam continues to thrive.
“He’s not just been great,” Carlisle said, “he’s been beyond great.”
Siakam played a major role in the Pacers’ playoff run last season and averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks during the NBA Finals.
Siakam also was great against the Thunder earlier this season. He delivered 32 points and 15 rebounds in the Pacers’ season-opening 141-135 double-overtime loss to Oklahoma City in Indianapolis.
Bennedict Mathurin was also a key player in helping Indiana challenge the Thunder in that opener, but Mathurin has missed the last 10 games with a thumb sprain.
The Pacers have expressed hope Mathurin will return during their current five-game road trip, which ends Monday in Atlanta.
Indiana also could be without reserve point guard Quenton Jackson, who suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday’s 119-104 loss in Boston.
Oklahoma City will also be without at least one key piece Friday.
All-Star Jalen Williams sustained a right hamstring strain early in Saturday’s loss in Miami and is expected to miss at least two weeks.
Aaron Wiggins also missed Wednesday’s 122-102 win in Milwaukee due to right groin soreness. Ajay Mitchell left Wednesday’s game with a hip injury, while Isaiah Hartenstein remains out.
The Thunder are still expected to have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander available, though.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 55 points in the opener at Indiana and is coming off a 40-point, 11-assist game against the Bucks.
Though Gilgeous-Alexander was 16 of 19 from the field in Wednesday’s victory, he probably remembers the handful of misses more than the makes.
“Every opportunity, every shot I take, every possession, every defensive possession, every missed box out ultimately leading up to every … game is an opportunity for me as an individual and us as a team to get better,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You’re not going to succeed in all your opportunities but the ones that you fail in, remembering them and using them as motivation, is how you take steps forward.”
