Three takeaways from Indiana Pacers preseason loss to Memphis Grizzlies

Rookie standouts, defense, and more

The Indiana Pacers kicked off their preseason slate with an overtime loss against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night. It was a fast-paced game, and neither team will be happy with the way they defended.

"This is a good test for us. You've got to be ready to get hit in the mouth," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said pregame. Indiana went on to lose 127-122, it was tied at 114 at the end of regulation.

The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton, Daniel Theis, and Andrew Nembhard, but all 15 of their available players got playing time and scored. It was a good evaluation game for the blue and gold despite the loss, and they will continue to do the same in their next preseason game on Tuesday in Houston.

The big takeaways for the Pacers all extend out from their biggest stories throughout training camp, and they will be important into the regular season as well.

Jarace Walker showed his wide-ranging skills

Despite not being in the Pacers rotation for the first half of the game, eighth overall pick Jarace Walker was a standout performer for Indiana.

He had to overcome a slow start to do it. The rookie forward missed his first five shots from the field while his teammates led a comeback. That isn't to say he wasn't impacting the game — Walker was making impressive plays despite his shot not falling. But his first eight minutes of action had some warts.

He recovered perfectly. Five of his next six shots dropped, including multiple three pointers. He handled the ball and made plays on defense. The Pacers allowed him to be the lead ball handler in transition a few times.

In the end, he finished with 19 points (a game high), nine rebounds (also a game high), four assists, two steals, and one block. Four turnovers and a slow start made it the classic rookie outing. Walker showed that he's got skill and room to grow.

Indiana's defense was rough

The Pacers and Grizzlies both played a more normal rotation in the first half, and Memphis continued to do so into the third quarter. After three frames, the Grizzlies had 91 points. When they were playing their main rotation, they had no trouble scoring against the blue and gold.

Indiana has been working on their defense all week. This season, they are changing the way that they approach that end of the floor. It's more one-on-one based, and they are trying to contain pick-and-rolls with less help.

The vision was clear in their preseason opener. Schematically, the Pacers looked like they were doing something differently. But it was not always successful.

Memphis scored 78 points in the paint, getting to the rim seemingly at will. Jaren Jackson Jr had no trouble getting to his spots, same for Derrick Rose and David Roddy. Other Grizzlies players had an easy time driving to the cup and making plays near the basket.

It's early in the campaign, and the Pacers will get better at their new style of defense. But it needs more work after the preseason opener.

Bennedict Mathurin was himself and was someone new

Second-year guard Bennedict Mathurin is an important player for the Pacers this season. His growth, as well as his immediate impact, will both be under a microscope all season.

While his fit with Haliburton was not on display, the young ball handler had a solid first preseason outing. He made multiple passes that showed his growth in his ability to read the game, and his decision making with his shot attempts was impressive.

This is exactly what you want to see from Bennedict Mathurin. Rejects the screen to attack baseline to his left and locates the kick-out avenue instead of forcing up a shot. Still doesn't make the pass with his left, but he's on the move and didn't try to beat the help. pic.twitter.com/NVK7Yq0erT

— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) October 9, 2023

He made the right plays while not losing what makes him a talented player. Mathurin finished with 18 points in 22 minutes, shooting 7/13 from the field. He added two assists and seven rebounds, though he did have three turnovers.

For Mathurin, making plays that fit within the offense and still being himself is key this season. He did that on Sunday night. More performances like that will lock in his role as an every-day starter for the Pacers.

Indiana next hits the court for preseason play on Tuesday in Houston.

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• The success of the Bennedict Mathurin and Tyrese Haliburton backcourt is critical for the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
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• What can the Indiana Pacers do better on defense this year? Well, everything. CLICK HERE.
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