It's hard to believe, but the Pacers will be in action on Thursday night, tipping off the 2018-19 preseason in Houston against the Rockets. In a scheduling quirk, Indiana's entire preseason schedule will take place on the road, with games every other day between Oct. 4 and 10.
Thursday's game will offer Pacers fans the first glimpse of free agent signings Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott, and Kyle O'Quinn, as well as draft picks Aaron Holiday and Alize Johnson. Evans — who averaged 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists last season for Memphis — and McDermott — a career 40.3 percent 3-point shooter — will definitely be a part of Indiana's rotation. O'Quinn, a physical presence who sets hard screens and crashes the boards, could play a large role as well.
The Blue & Gold enter the preseason relatively healthy, but veteran forward Thaddeus Young has missed most of training camp with a minor foot injury. Young likely will miss Thursday's exhibition against the Rockets, creating an opportunity for second-year forward TJ Leaf to slide into a starting role and see increased minutes. Leaf, the 18th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, played sparingly as a rookie but is trying to earn a spot in the rotation backing up Young this year (O'Quinn is his main competition).
Wheat Hotchkiss
https://www.nba.com/pacers/preview-pacers-rockets-181004