Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #70 - BLAZERS @ PACERS - MARCH 18, 2026 - WEDNESDAY - 4:30 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

[crandc]

I can't quite sing along with Donovan, "happy I am". More like relieved I am.

 

[STOMP]

he’s always hurting his back lol

not a Trailblazers fan, obviously. I never understood the appeal of being a troll, but whatever... you do you

STOMP

 

[BlazerBeav]

That was not exactly a work of art, but beats losing.

 

[kjironman1]

All right, so I checked.

Scoot at home this season: 17.6 points, 4.9 assists, 3.3 reb, 48.2% FG, 42.2% 3, 85.7% FT (seven games).
Scoot on the road this season: 11.4 points, 3.3 assists, 2.4 reb, 36.2% FG, 26.5% 3, 78.1% FT (10 games).

He's played Indiana both at home and on the road. He played 26 minutes in each game.

At home: 28 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 0 turnovers, 10-15 FG, 3-7 3FG, 5-6 FT, 2 fouls
On the road: 9 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 turnovers, 4-8 FG, 1-3 FG3, 0-0 FT, 4 fouls

He had one block in each of those games, plus one steal in the home game.

I think some of that has to do with his rough start coming back. Also a little bit to do with who they were playing?

 

[THE HCP]

he’s always hurting his back lol

Why did you type “lol”?
You think it’s funny when the best player on your favorite team gets hurt?

 

[THE HCP]

I think he banged knees with someone.

I think he banged knees with someone.

Rolled his ankle pretty bad. Came right back in though.

 

[julius]

Rolled his ankle pretty bad. Came right back in though.

Knee, ankle, whatever. In my defense all white people's body parts look alike.

 

[BassPlaya]

Knee, ankle, whatever. In my defense all white people's body parts look alike.

That's not what I saw in the locker room in high school.......

 

[Wizard Mentor]

T

That's not what I saw in the locker room in high school.......

Then you shouldn't have spent so much time in the girls locker room.....

 

[HailBlazers]

he’s always hurting his back lol

 

[wizenheimer]

Knee, ankle, whatever. In my defense all white people's body parts look alike.

not on Pornhub

 

[julius]

not on Pornhub

I see you took advantage of promo code @THE HCP !

 

[wizenheimer]

I wonder if Indiana is the only team to go from NBA Finals one season to worst record in the league the next....?

I know the Spurs went from 59 wins in 1995-96 to 20 wins the next season when they got 1st in the draft and lucked into Duncan. But that 95-96 team lost in the conference semi's

 

[Pinwheel1]

Playing down to your competition and losing part of your huge lead in the 4th quarter happens to teams a hell of a lot better than the Blazers.

 

[julius]

I wonder if Indiana is the only team to go from NBA Finals one season to worst record in the league the next....?

I know the Spurs went from 59 wins in 1995-96 to 20 wins the next season when they got 1st in the draft and lucked into Duncan. But that 95-96 team lost in the conference semi's

Warriors after the 2018 season.

 

[wizenheimer]

Warriors after the 2018 season.

I forgot about that. They essentially lost Durant; Curry, and Klay. Those 3 combined for 225 games that season...and 5 the next

then they 'cashed in' at the draft by grabbing James Wiseman....oops!

 

[THE HCP]

That's not what I saw in the locker room in high school.......

YOU RANG FAMS!!??

 

[THE HCP]

I see you took advantage of promo code @THE HCP !

HA!!!!!!!! HEY……….

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I give Tiago and the coaching staff credit for making that game more exciting than it should have been.

There was waaaaaaaaaaay too much of that putting the ball in the hands of someone and putting two guys in the corner and two spread out at the wings and dribbling down the shot clock with no action in the 4Q for my taste. I think we've seen enough of it to know it's not the Blazers' game.

I also don't like the idea of doing it with Deni on the point with that amount of frequency, especially with Scoot in the game. Do it once or twice maybe. Switch it up. But not possession after possession. Because it's too predictable. Deni's going to hunt his shot and hunt for contact as options one through five. And, when you've already burned 16-18 seconds off the shot clock before attacking, you've given the initiative to the defense. Deni's not going downhill. He's working from a flat start against a set defense.

If the Blazers want to work from this set, as much as I don't like it, maybe work an action with Scoot on the ball, Deni on the wing, Scoot running a dribble handoff with Deni with about nine seconds left on the shot clock, and let Deni get a running start curling off the wing heading toward the basket. They even can have one of the corner guys simultaneously flash for the lob that Deni throws so well off that action. Anything but this stand-around, ball-sticking offense.

I don't think Splitter is coming back.

 

[blazerfan11]

I don't think Splitter is coming back.

I forgot about that. They essentially lost Durant; Curry, and Klay. Those 3 combined for 225 games that season...and 5 the next

then they 'cashed in' at the draft by grabbing James Wiseman....oops!

2020 was a crazy draft. James Wiseman was picked at #2.
As of March 2026, James Wiseman is not currently on an active NBA roster. The Indiana Pacers released him on December 26, 2025, following a stint on a 10-day contract and a previous 2024-25 season-opening Achilles tear.

At the other end of the draft, there's Sam Merrill, at #60.
Sam Merrill signed a four-year, $38 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers in June 2025 to remain with the team as a key reserve shooter. The deal, which keeps him in Cleveland through the 2028-29 season, makes him the highest-paid 60th overall draft pick in NBA history.

In the middle is Desmond Bane, #30.
Desmond Bane, traded to the Orlando Magic in June 2025, is in the first year of a five-year, $197.2 million rookie extension (through 2028-29). His cap hit rises from $36.7M in 2025-26 to $44.8M by 2028-29.

 

[ant]

I saw that Zubac is out for remainder of season after fracturing a rib vs Portland. I didn’t see when that happened, but that lump DC gave him on the forehead was nasty.