By Jacob Douglas | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2026-01-02 08:00:00
伤病真的能毁掉一个赛季。问问印第安纳步行者就知道了，他们不仅整个赛季都缺少了明星后卫泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton)，而且许多关键轮换球员也长时间缺阵。本赛季已有24名球员为步行者队登场过。圣安东尼奥马刺队也遭遇了相当多的伤病，但他们成功地在缺少关键球员的情况下挺过了难关。周五晚上在印第安纳波利斯，他们需要再次做到这一点，因为维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 和德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell) 将会缺席。
马刺队刚刚战胜了纽约尼克斯队，在那场比赛中，凭借朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie) 的火热手感，他们在第四节逆转了两位数的分差。然而，这场胜利也付出了代价，文班亚马的膝盖过度伸展。报道称，尽管他膝盖的核磁共振检查结果呈阴性，但马刺队仍可能在一到两场比赛中失去他。
上赛季才刚杀入NBA总决赛第七场的步行者队，仅仅一年后就直奔乐透区而去了。他们目前战绩联盟垫底。他们的场均得分全联盟最低，防守效率也位列最差之一。他们目前正经历一波10连败。但这支球队仍拥有顶级天赋，比如帕斯卡尔·西亚卡姆 (Pascal Siakam) 和安德鲁·内姆布哈德 (Andrew Nembhard)。
圣安东尼奥马刺过去有过遇弱不强的表现。从纸面实力上看，马刺队应该能轻松击败步行者队。但比赛不是在纸上谈兵，而是在球场上见真章。一月份的赛程将十分艰难，马刺队需要抓住这场可以拿下的比赛。
圣安东尼奥马刺 (24-9) vs. 印第安纳步行者 (6-28)
2025年1月2日 | 中央时间下午6点
观看：Fan Duel | 收听：WOAI (1200 AM)
马刺伤病名单 ：斯坦利·乌穆德 (Stanley Umude) – 缺阵 (G联赛), 大卫·琼斯-加西亚 (David Jones-Garcia) – 缺阵 (G联赛), 哈里森·英格拉姆 (Harrison Ingram) – 缺阵 (G联赛), 德文·瓦塞尔 – 缺阵 (大腿), 维克托·文班亚马 – 缺阵 (膝盖)
步行者伤病名单: 泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 – 缺阵 (跟腱), 以赛亚·杰克逊 (Isaiah Jackson) – 缺阵 (脑震荡), T.J.·麦康奈尔 (T.J. McConnell) – 大概率出战 (腿筋), 奥比·托平 (Obi Toppin) – 缺阵 (脚部)
比赛看点：
冲击禁区
步行者队在许多数据统计上都排名垫底。但有一件事他们做得非常出色，那就是防守三分线。本赛季，对手面对印第安纳步行者时的三分命中率仅为34%。圣安东尼奥马刺能命中高难度三分，但当他们坚决冲击禁区时，表现会好得多。马刺的后卫三人组——斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle)、德阿龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 和迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper)——应该能够突破步行者的后卫线，杀入禁区。一旦进入禁区，他们就需要小心步行者队的大个子杰伊·赫夫 (Jay Huff)，他场均能送出2.3次盖帽。
在篮板上惩罚对手
印第安纳步行者并非一支优秀的篮板球队。他们的总篮板数排名联盟第24位，而场均让对手抢到的篮板数则高居联盟第二。圣安东尼奥马刺可以利用其富有侵略性的篮板手来攻击这一弱点。卢克·科内特 (Luke Kornet)、凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 和朱利安·尚帕尼应该能在对阵步行者的比赛中统治篮板。二次进攻得分可能会为马刺带来决定性的优势，让他们能够以一场大胜离开印第安纳波利斯。
更深的板凳席
在文班亚马和瓦塞尔缺阵的情况下，米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 将需要启用更深层次的替补阵容。这很可能意味着凯利·奥利尼克 (Kelly Olynyk)（他在对阵尼克斯时表现稳健）、卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant)（这位新秀本赛季表现起伏不定）、林迪·沃特斯 (Lindy Waters)（一名神射手），当然还有杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 将获得更多时间。马刺本赛季还没怎么找到使用索汉的方法，但在文班或科内特缺阵时，他曾作为替补大个子顶上。面对身材偏矮的步行者队，或许正是使用索汉、并帮助他重回正轨的好时机。
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers
Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers
Injuries can really derail a season. Just ask the Indiana Pacers, who have not only been without star guard Tyrese Haliburton all year, but also many of their key rotation players for long stretches. 24 players have logged minutes for the Pacers this season. The San Antonio Spurs have dealt with their fair share of injuries, too, but have managed to weather the storm without key players. They’ll need to do it again on Friday night in Indianapolis, as they’ll be without Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell.
The Spurs are coming off a win against the New York Knicks, in which they came back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit thanks to the hot shooting of Julian Champagnie. The win came with a cost, as Wembanyama hyperextended his knee. Reports indicate that while the MRI on his knee came back negative, the Spurs could be without him for a game or two.
The Pacers are headed for the lottery just a year after getting to Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season. They currently have the worst record in the NBA. They score the least amount of points per game in the league and have one of the worst defensive ratings. They are currently on a 10-game losing streak. This team still has top-level talent, with players like Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard.
San Antonio has played down to its competition in the past. On paper, the Spurs should beat the Pacers handily. But the game isn’t played on paper; it’s played on hardwood. With a tough stretch of the schedule coming up in January, the Spurs need to take advantage of a winnable matchup.
San Antonio Spurs (24-9) vs. Indiana Pacers (6-28)
January 2nd, 2025 | 6 PM CT
Watch: Fan Duel | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Stanley Umude – Out (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), Devin Vassell – Out (thigh), Victor Wembanyama – Out (knee)
**Pacers Injuries:**Tyrese Haliburton – Out (Achilles), Isaiah Jackson – Out (concussion), T.J. McConnell – Probable (hamstring), Obi Toppin – Out (foot)
What to watch for:
Getting into the paint
The Pacers are near the bottom in a lot of stats. One thing they do really well is guard the three-point line. Opposing teams are shooting 34% from deep against Indiana this year. San Antonio can make tough threes, but they are much better when they are relentlessly attacking the paint. The Spurs’ guard trio of Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper should be able to get arond Indy’s guards and into the paint against the Pacers. Once they get there, they’ll need to watch out for Indiana big man, Jay Huff, who is averaging 2.3 blocks per game.
Punishing the Pacers on the glass
Indiana isn’t a good rebounding team. They are 24th in total rebounds and allow their opponents to grab the second most rebounds per game in the league. San Antonio can exploit this weakness with its aggressive rebounders. Luke Kornet, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie should feast on the glass against Indy. Second-chance points could lead to major swings for the Spurs, allowing them to leave Indianapolis with a blowout win.
A deeper bench
With no Wembanyama or Vassell, Mitch Johnson will need to go deeper into his bench. That likely means more Kelly Olynyk, who was solid against the Knicks, Carter Bryant, who has been up and down as a rookie, Lindy Waters, a sharpshooter, and yes, Jeremy Sochan. The Spurs haven’t found a way to use Sochan much this year, but he has filled in as a backup big man when Wemby or Kornet have been out. An undersized Pacers squad could be the right time to use Sochan, and possibly get him back on the right track.
By Jacob Douglas, via Pounding The Rock