Pacers vs. Grizzlies NBA picks: Indiana should have more players available against surprising Memphis — SkimNews
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- Pacers used only six players in a 108-104 loss to Atlanta, marking the first time in 22 years they fielded so few, with second-round rookie Braden Smith logging 42 minutes and a double-double.
- Memphis Grizzlies are 6-1 and listed as 7.5-point home favorites against Indiana, defying preseason expectations of a 28.5-win season and a full rebuild around rookie Cameron Boozer.
- Cameron Boozer averages 17.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, has a 32.5 PRA Over/Under for the game, and is the +200 favorite for Rookie of the Year after a historic triple-double at age 19.
- Ty Jerome is averaging 28.2 points per game on 50.4% shooting, a dramatic surge for the 29-year-old journeyman who never averaged double figures in prior seasons, including a 40-point outburst in Memphis’s first loss.
- Indiana will be without Tyrese Haliburton, TJ McConnell, Ben Sheppard, and Johnny Furphy due to injury, while Obi Toppin, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Ivica Zubac are questionable after sitting out the previous game.
Why it matters: The Pacers’ decision to rest Pascal Siakam despite a depleted roster highlights growing frustration with NBA 'load management,' while Memphis’s unexpected competitiveness—fueled by Boozer and Jerome—shifts betting markets, with 99% of handle backing the Grizzlies at -7.5. This mismatch in availability and momentum could redefine early-season narratives for both rebuilding and contending teams.
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