The Pacers open the regular season at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 29th — but first, training camp and preseason games.
The Indiana Pacers have yet to make their preseason schedule known for the upcoming 2015-16 season, but dates are beginning to come to light. As the other 29 teams around the league announce their preseason dates on their own time, we have learned the following meetings are set for Indiana (all times in ET):
- Saturday, Oct. 3 vs New Orleans Pelicans, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 9 – vs Orlando Magic, 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 15 – at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m.
All four matchups are notable — with the Pelicans and Magic home games featuring former Indiana University standouts. The Pelicans opening their preseason slate in Indianapolis allows Eric Gordon to play at home twice in a season for the first time over his eight-year career. The Magic are led by IU alum Victor Oladipo, and former Pacer C.J. Watson joined their squad in free agency.
Cleveland is the reigning Eastern Conference Champion (Central Division, too) and is led by LeBron James. The Bulls, meanwhile, figure to be a top team in the Eastern Conference and have had their share of Central Division battles against the Pacers through the years. Former Pacers shooting guard Mike Dunleavy and Purdue graduate E’Twaun Moore both suit up for the Bulls.
[Click here to view the Pacers’ regular season schedule]
Last fall, the Pacers played seven exhibition games before ushering in a new year (and they announced last year’s preseason schedule on Aug. 5). I would expect about the same number, perhaps one less game.