Indiana Pacers Drop First Preseason Game

Michael Hickey- US PRESSWIRE

The Indiana Pacers began their 2012-13 preseason by traveling to the Fargo Dome in Fargo, North Dakota, to play the first of two preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pacers lost the game with an unimpressive 70-84 debut performance, but will get another shot at the Wolves on Friday, when they have their preseason home opener at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Pacers entered the game without three of their five starting players in the lineup. Starting point guard George Hill, starting power forward David West, and starting small forward Danny Granger were all held out of the game against the Timberwolves. Granger is coming off of recent knee surgery in the off season, but all three players will be expected to be ready to go when the Pacers begin the regular season.

No less than 15 players saw the floor for the Pacers during the loss, only five of which were on the Indiana roster last season. The team was led in scoring by shooting guard Paul George, who had 16 points in almost 22 minutes of play. George was the only Pacer to score in double figures.

These preseason games won’t be much more than an opportunity to work out the new players on this roster, and to get the new Pacers used to each other on the court. Indiana’s starting lineup remains intact from last season, but getting the bench players in sync and in tune with each other will be much more important this preseason than the record of wins and losses.