Thunder's Rotation Lines Up for a Pacers Rematch of Last…

By the Thunder Nightly Desk · Tuesday, October 13

Oklahoma City lists eleven regulars with rest tied to tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers, the team it beat in seven games for last season's championship. The first two exhibition games went to the bench, dropping 110-116 to New Orleans and 126-128 to Milwaukee before a 110-113 loss at Atlanta on Monday.

Thunder Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

A Finals Rematch at Home

The Thunder enter on four days of rest; Carlisle's Pacers arrive on one day off after three games in the last seven days. Indiana finished 19-63 last season, outscored by 7.8 points a game, with its next game four days away, while Oklahoma City is back in action in a day, at Houston on Thursday.

Reserves Carried the Opener

Bennett Stirtz, Brooks Barnhizer, Aday Mara and Josh Dix logged between 33 and 40 minutes apiece in Monday's 110-113 loss at Atlanta, combining for 79 points while the regulars rested. With Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso and seven others now tied to tonight's date, Oklahoma City could field something closer to its real rotation for the first time this fall.

Indiana's Own Absences

Tyrese Haliburton is tied to tonight's date with an ankle issue, T.J. McConnell carries an undisclosed one, and Johnny Furphy is out with a knee injury. Pascal Siakam averaged 24.0 points and Andrew Nembhard added 7.7 assists last season for a Pacers team still built around the core that pushed Oklahoma City to seven games for the title.

Is Gilgeous-Alexander playing against the Pacers tonight?

He is one of eleven Thunder regulars tied to tonight's date after resting through the first two exhibition games.

Did the Thunder beat the Pacers in the Finals last season?

Yes, Oklahoma City beat Indiana in seven games last season to win the championship.

By the Thunder Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.