Pacers at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are a franchise in transition and they look to win for the third time in four games this season when they host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. The revamped Spurs are banking that standout guard DeMar DeRozan will be a good fit with power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and the early returns are favorable.
DeRozan was acquired from the Toronto Raptors in the deal for disgruntled Kawhi Leonard and he is averaging a team-best 29.3 points with his low output through three games being 28. Aldridge regained his go-to role last season while Leonard was injured and he is averaging 23.3 points after exploding for 37 in Monday's 143-142 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pacers are playing the second game of a stretch in which five of six are on the road and coach Nate McMillan is hoping for a better offensive showing then Monday's 101-91 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. "I thought our shot selection was poor," McMillan told reporters of the 39.6 percent effort. "We didn't have ball movement. Basically we were taking quick shots and taking quick, contested shots."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Indiana, FS Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE PACERS (2-2): Shooting guard Victor Oladipo has strung together three straight 20-point efforts but he wasn't impressed with his play while scoring 20 on 8-of-23 shooting against Minnesota. "I've got to do a better job with my shot selection, seeing guys coming, seeing the weak side coming over and stuff like that," Oladipo told reporters. "It is something we've got to get better at -- making the right decisions offensively and stuff." Point guard Darren Collison is off to a slow start with averages of seven points and 4.3 assists.
ABOUT THE SPURS (2-1): DeRozan recorded 32 points and a career-best 14 assists in the win over the Lakers but it was neither he nor Aldridge who hit the winning shot. Veteran Patty Mills connected on the decisive jumper with 6.8 seconds left and the player in his eighth season with the team is now the longest tenured player with the franchise. "It's always good when you make shots or make an impact," Mills said afterward. "Other than that shot, it was a team victory. It was a gutsy win. Everyone participated."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pacers swept two games from the Spurs last season and their win in San Antonio was just their second in the past 16 visits.
2. San Antonio is averaging 13 3-points baskets per game with G Bryn Forbes leading the team with 10.
3. Indiana F TJ Leaf (ankle) is expected to return after a three-game absence.