INDIANAPOLIS – Several key Indiana Pacers players sat out Monday night’s preseason home game against Memphis.
Coach Rick Carlisle decided to rest Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell. Aaron Nesmith sat out with a sore ankle and rookie Johnny Furphy missed his third straight game with an ankle injury.
That meant starting opportunities for Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin and Bennedict Mathurin. All three joined Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner in the starting five.
The Pacers fell 120-116 in a game with plenty of local interest. Indiana native Desmond Bane and former Purdue star Zach Edey led all scorers with 23 points apiece; Edey added 9 rebounds in 19 minutes for Memphis.
Walker was the top scorer for Indiana, finishing with 15 points. He also had six rebounds and four assists. Seven other Pacers finished in double figures: Quenton Jackson (10), Nembhard (10), Cole Swider (10, James Wiseman (10), Mathurin (12), Ben Sheppard (12) and Turner (12).
The Pacers trailed 31-17 after the first quarter and 60-49 at halftime. They entered the fourth quarter trailing 91-78 and outscored Memphis in the final frame to make the score look a bit more respectable.
The Pacers, now 1-2 in the preseason, play their final preseason game against Charlotte on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They open the regular season on Oct. 23 in a road game against Detroit.
Their regular-season home opener is Oct. 27 against Philadelphia.