Indiana has played six games on this calendar date and won five, the lone loss a 155-104 defeat at Boston in 2023. Tonight's opponent is winless Brooklyn, but by our count 134 minutes of rotation time are sitting out for the Pacers.
Five wins on this date
Indiana beat New Jersey 113-100 on November 1, 1980. It won 96-83 over Golden State in 1997 and 95-79 over Boston in 2008. It won 124-107 at Cleveland in 2017 and 131-118 over San Antonio in 2021. Only the 2023 trip to Boston went wrong, 155-104. The calendar is kind to this franchise. This roster has to supply its own help.
The hole in tonight's rotation
Haliburton (33.0 minutes a game), Toppin, Zubac, McConnell, Sheppard and Furphy are all out. That is 134 minutes, by our count. Toppin's back problem was the newest change. Over the last three games, Quenton Jackson and Taelon Peter have each played nine more minutes a night than their season average, and Kobe Brown ten more, with a teammate out. The Heat game showed the limit of that: Indiana dressed 11 players and lost 145-125. Those past November 1 teams never had to cover a gap this wide.
Why Brooklyn is still a test
The Nets are 0-5 and have been outscored by 10.5 per 100 possessions. They allow 115.2, which is more than Indiana's 112.9 scoring pace through six games. Julius Randle averages 21.0 points and Michael Porter Jr. 20.8 over five games. Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Demin and Tyler Bilodeau are all out for them. Indiana beat this team 136-109 on October 25. That was the version with Haliburton's passing and a full bench, and it is the version fans of this team's ball movement want back. Carlisle can win tonight only by moving the ball quickly enough to make thin minutes look deep.
How have the Pacers done on November 1 in past seasons?
They have won five of six games on this date, including 131-118 over San Antonio in 2021. The loss was 155-104 at Boston in 2023.
Who is out for the Pacers against the Nets?
Haliburton, Toppin, Zubac, McConnell, Sheppard and Furphy are listed out. Together they account for 134 minutes of rotation time, by our count.
