The NBA resumes play on Wednesday night following a historic Election Day, offering fans fourteen games to choose from. Among the most intriguing matchups is the Pacers visiting the Grizzlies at FedExForum, a contest that begins at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The Grizzlies are favored by 7.5 points at DraftKings, where they have attracted significant attention, with 99% of the betting handle and 80% of all bets coming in on their side. The total points for the game are set at 229.5, with similar leaning toward the under.
Indiana enters this game under unusual circumstances after a 108-104 home loss to Atlanta on Monday, which marked their fifth consecutive defeat. The Pacers fielded only six available players in that contest, a rare occurrence that occurred for the first time in 22 years according to NBA.com. This scarcity of personnel was exacerbated by injuries and illness, leaving the team to rely heavily on its few healthy options. Second-round rookie guard Braden Smith, who played 42 minutes, contributed a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists, while all six players who took the floor logged at least 34 minutes.
The situation is particularly unusual because the season is less than two weeks old. Historically, teams have rarely used such a small rotation this early in the campaign. The last time a team played with six or fewer players in the first month of a season was in 1948, when the Lakers used five players in their third game. More recently, Golden State used six players in November 2009. For the current Pacers roster, about 93% of the payroll was unavailable for the Atlanta game, a situation that has raised questions about team management and rest protocols.
Several key players remain out for Wednesday's game, including superstar Tyrese Haliburton and guards TJ McConnell, Ben Sheppard, and Johnny Furphy. However, the status of other notable players remains uncertain. Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. sat out the last game with a bruised knee, while starting center Ivica Zubac has been limited to three games this season due to injury. If Zubac plays, he provides a significant defensive boost, as Indiana has allowed 115.8 points per game so far.
The Grizzlies present a formidable challenge, having started the season with a 6-1 record and finishing as the last team to lose despite having one of the lowest win totals in the preseason. The team was expected to be in a rebuilding phase centered around No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer, but the 19-year-old former Duke star has exceeded expectations. He is averaging 17.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, earning him +200 odds for the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Boozer recently recorded a triple-double against Portland, becoming the youngest front-court player in league history to achieve such a feat.
Another standout for Memphis is 29-year-old guard Ty Jerome, who is averaging a stunning 28.2 points per game on 50.4% shooting. This performance is a dramatic departure from his career average, though he did score 40 points in the Grizzlies' only loss of the season, a 135-134 overtime defeat to New Orleans. The Grizzlies will be without reserve guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who is listed as out, while backup center Quentin Post is questionable. Despite the Pacers' struggles, the Grizzlies' depth and current form make them the clear favorites in a game that highlights the disparity in roster availability between the two teams.
