Prediction: Indiana Pacers VS San Antonio Spurs 2025-10-17
Indiana Pacers vs. San Antonio Spurs: A Preseason Showdown of Absences and Ambitions
The Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs are set to clash in what might be the NBA’s most chaotic preseason finale—a game where both teams are missing so many key players, it’s like a family reunion for the training staff. Let’s break down the numbers, news, and why this game is already written in the stars (or at least the injury reports).
Parsing the Odds: Why the Spurs Are the Golden Ticket
The betting lines tell a story of stark imbalance. The Spurs are installed as heavy favorites with decimal odds hovering around 1.47-1.49, implying a 67-68% chance of victory. Meanwhile, the Pacers’ odds of 2.7 translate to a 37% implied probability. For context, those numbers are roughly equivalent to betting on a sloth to win a footrace against Usain Bolt—charming, but not practical.
The spread reinforces this: Spurs -5.5 with nearly even money lines across books. The total is set at 234.5 points, suggesting a high-scoring affair, but given the Spurs’ defensive cohesion (led by Victor Wembanyama’s shot-blocking prowess) and the Pacers’ offensive fragility without Tyrese Haliburton, the “Under” might be a sneaky play.
Injury Carnage: A Who’s Who of the Training Room
The Pacers are essentially fielding a team of “game-time decisions” and role players. Their star trio? Tyrese Haliburton (torn Achilles, out for the season), Kam Jones (back), and T.J. McConnell (hamstring) are all sidelined. Even “game-time decisions” Johnny Furphy and Quenton Jackson might sit, leaving Indiana with a starting five of Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Isaiah Jackson. It’s like assembling a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces in the trash can.
The Spurs aren’t exactly healthy, but they’re healthier. De’Aaron Fox (hamstring) and Lindy Waters (laser eye surgery) miss the game, but Victor Wembanyama—the NBA’s most anticipated rookie since the invention of the three-point line—is expected to play. The Spurs’ starters—Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Wembanyama—form a unit that’s both athletic and defensively imposing. With a perfect 4-0 preseason record, including a 124-108 drubbing of the Pacers on October 13, San Antonio enters this game with the swagger of a team that’s already won the lottery.
The Humor: Basketball’s Version of a Broken Shopping Cart
The Pacers’ injury report reads like a horror movie: “Haliburton’s Achilles: A Tragedy in Five Acts.” Without their star point guard, Indiana’s offense is like a shopping cart missing three wheels—still rolling, but destined to veer off course and hit a display of canned goods. Their lack of size and interior defense? A buffet for Wembanyama, who’ll likely treat the game like a video game on “easy mode,” posterizing anyone who dares challenge him.
The Spurs, meanwhile, are the well-oiled machine of a team that’s mastered the preseason’s equivalent of a “warm-up song.” Wembanyama, with his 7’4” frame and circus-performer agility, is the NBA’s answer to a human eraser—erasing shots, erasing hopes, and probably erasing chalk from the sideline if given the chance.
Prediction: The Spurs’ Preseason Perfection Continues
While the Pacers’ Mathurin (31 points in the last meeting) could threaten, San Antonio’s depth and defensive dominance—led by Wembanyama’s rim protection—make this a mismatch too lopsided for comedy. The Spurs’ 4-0 preseason streak is a testament to their readiness for the regular season, while the Pacers’ injuries turn this into a glorified scrimmage for San Antonio’s playoff aspirations.
Final Verdict: Bet the San Antonio Spurs -5.5 to extend their preseason perfection. The Pacers are a team in disarray, and the Spurs? They’re just here to practice their victory dances.
“The Spurs don’t need Fox or Waters to win this game—they just need Wembanyama to remember how to dunk. Spoiler: He does.”
Final Score Prediction: San Antonio Spurs 118, Indiana Pacers 103.
Created: Oct. 17, 2025, 7:31 p.m. GMT