Indiana Pacers vs Brooklyn Nets

Prediction

• Indiana Pacers: 58%
• Brooklyn Nets: 42%

Pick: Indiana Pacers (Medium confidence)

Match context

Two short-handed teams. Brooklyn are 0-5 and still looking for their first win. Indiana are 2-4, winless at home so far, and have lost four of their last five. Both sides played on Friday night and have had a day off, so neither has a rest advantage. Indiana's problem is availability: Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac and T.J. McConnell are all out.

Recent form

Indiana beat New Orleans on the road in their opener and thrashed Brooklyn 136-109 on 25 October, but since then they have lost to Milwaukee, lost at home to Philadelphia 114-109 and been beaten 145-125 at Miami. They are 0-2 at home. Brooklyn's results are closer than their record suggests: they lost 121-125 at Cleveland, 124-125 at Boston and 110-103 to Charlotte on opening night, before a flat 110-94 home loss to Detroit on Friday. That Detroit game is the one that worries them, because it was their lowest-scoring night of the season.

How they attack and defend

Neither side can defend. Indiana have scored about 117 and allowed about 120 a game across their six, and have not held anyone below 109. Brooklyn have scored about 110 and allowed about 121 across their five, and have not held anyone below 110. Indiana have topped 120 three times, Brooklyn only twice, so if this turns into a shoot-out the home side has been the more reliable scoring team, although it is missing its main playmaker tonight.

Head to head

They met on 25 October in Brooklyn and Indiana won 136-109, the heaviest defeat of the Nets' season so far. Brooklyn were without Tyler Bilodeau (shoulder) that night. It is the only meeting between them this season.

Key players and availability

Indiana are without Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac and T.J. McConnell, and Ben Sheppard is also out, according to Rotowire's lineup page for 1 November. Obi Toppin is questionable and Aaron Nesmith is probable. The projected starting five is Andrew Nembhard, Kelly Oubre Jr., Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Jay Huff, which puts a lot on Siakam to create and score. Brooklyn are missing Mikel Brown and Egor Demin. Their projected starters are Chaney Johnson, Nolan Traore, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle and Day'Ron Sharpe, with Randle and Porter the obvious scoring threats.

The edge

Indiana are still the pick, but by less than the home floor and last week's 27-point win would suggest. They are without their lead playmaker and starting centre, they have lost four of five and they have not won at home. Brooklyn have lost Brown and Demin but have been in three games decided by seven points or fewer, and Randle and Porter can score against an Indiana defence that has just given up 145. The pick goes wrong if Indiana's thin rotation cannot get stops and a Brooklyn side desperate for a first win stays in touch into the fourth quarter, which is how their games at Cleveland and Boston went.

Team news

• Haliburton, Zubac and McConnell out for Indiana: Rotowire's lineup page for 1 November lists Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac, T.J. McConnell and Ben Sheppard as out. Obi Toppin is questionable and Aaron Nesmith is probable.
• Mikel Brown and Egor Demin out for Brooklyn: Both guards are listed as out on Rotowire's lineup page for 1 November.
• Nets still searching for a first win at 0-5: Three of Brooklyn's five defeats have come by seven points or fewer, including 124-125 at Boston and 121-125 at Cleveland. The 94-110 home loss to Detroit on Friday was their lowest score of the season.
• Both teams played Friday night and have had a day off: Indiana lost 145-125 at Miami and Brooklyn lost 110-94 to Detroit on Friday. Neither side has a rest advantage tonight.