PREVIEW: The Indiana Pacers enter Friday's matchup as the home team with elite defensive rebounding (ranked 1st) and a disciplined perimeter defense that limits three-point attempts , while the New Orleans Pelicans arrive with a dominant inside presence, ranking 1st in high-frequency attacking the rim. Indiana will wrap up a four-game homestand after seeing its three-game winning streak snapped by Toronto on Wednesday , whereas New Orleans just snapped a four-game skid with a 116-113 victory over Brooklyn, with Trey Murphy III scoring 34 points. The Pelicans' offensive rebounding efficiency ranks 6th in the league, giving them multiple chances to score on possessions , but they're bottom-five defensively against rim attacks and rank dead-last in passing execution. Historically, the home team has won each of the last 10 meetings between these franchises , establishing Gainbridge Fieldhouse as a fortress for the Pacers' playoff-push aspirations. Both squads arrive undermanned and searching for offensive consistency heading into the weekend contest. Zion Williamson continues to lead the Pelicans with 22.4 points per game on elite 57.9 percent shooting, while Murphy follows at 22.2 points while connecting on 50.3 percent from the field. Pascal Siakam anchors Indiana's offense with 23.6 points and 7.1 assists per game, while Andrew Nembhard chips in 17.4 points with solid three-point range. The Pacers' primary vulnerability centers on their defensive lapses against rim attacks and middling shot quality overall, though they compensate with league-leading defensive three-point discipline , setting up an intriguing battle of offensive firepower versus structural defensive discipline.