A pair of Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers in the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers meet on Sunday at Indianapolis, with each looking to ignite a much-needed spark.
The Pacers, who are reigning champions in the Eastern Conference, head into the final nine games of 2025 having endured an injury-plagued opening stretch to the season.
Indiana came into the campaign after last year’s run to the NBA Finals already down All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton. He was lost to an Achilles injury sustained in a Game 7 Finals defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Indiana was without Bennedict Mathurin for 11 games earlier this season. Andrew Nembhard missed seven straight games before returning in November. Aaron Nesmith suffered a knee injury on Nov. 13 that has sidelined him for 13 consecutive games and counting.
In addition, Obi Toppin has been out since the fourth game of the season with a foot injury.
Amid their lack of roster stability, the Pacers opened the season with one victory in their first 14 games. They have since regrouped to go 5-6 since Nov. 19. They come into Sunday’s contest fresh off of a 115-105 loss at Philadelphia.
Pascal Siakam, Indiana’s leading scorer at 24.3 points in 24 games played, finished with 20 against the 76ers. Nembhard went for 18 points and seven assists, but the Pacers endured a cold, 15-point fourth quarter that doomed them to the loss on Friday.
With a thin rotation at his disposal, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle gave Tony Bradley significant late-game minutes. Bradley is one of 22 players to see action for the Pacers already in 2025-26.
“That’s who we have to be even when we’re at full strength,” Carlisle said. “We have to be a sum-of-its-parts group. We’ve got a lot of really good contributions … (and) a lot of good things from a process standpoint.”
Far more consistent now, Indiana can improve to .500 over the last 12 games with a second win against last-place Washington over the stretch.
The Pacers blasted the Wizards on Nov. 28, delivering a season-best defensive performance in a 119-86 blowout.
Washington has struggled offensively, ranking 25th in the NBA at 113.0 points scored per game. The Wizards have also been the most porous defensive team in the league with 128.3 points yielded per game.
Washington gave Eastern Conference contender Cleveland a fight on Friday, but the Wizards could not overcome the 130 points they allowed in a four-point loss. It was the third consecutive game Washington surrendered at least 130 points.
The Wizards now are on a four-game losing streak.
Despite the outcome Friday, Washington coach Brian Keefe said the team “will continue to grow from games like this.”
A positive Washington has seen in recent outings is the emergence of Bub Carrington, who followed up his 14-point, nine-assist effort in last Saturday’s 131-116 loss to Atlanta with 27 points and eight assists against the Cavaliers.
“We can see the scoring (but what was most impressive) to me was how he controlled the flow of the game,” Keefe said of Carrington. “His pace, his passing, getting in the paint … that stuff is contagious.”
