PREVIEW: The Indiana Pacers will host the Washington Wizards on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the final NBA Cup game for both squads , with both teams desperately seeking momentum in what has been a difficult start to the season. The Pacers enter with a 2-16 record while the Wizards sit just slightly ahead at 2-15 , making this a clash between two of the league's most struggling franchises. Indiana is coming off a heartbreaking last-second loss to Toronto, where they built an early double-digit lead before surrendering 22 unanswered points, ultimately falling short despite rallying from a 13-point deficit. The bright spot for the Pacers has been veteran T.J. McConnell, who delivered a season-high 24 minutes off the bench with 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists . Washington will look to build on the momentum from their stunning upset win over Atlanta, though both teams enter without clear shot quality data to analyze their offensive efficiency. The Wizards snapped a 14-game losing streak on Tuesday with an impressive 132-113 victory, led by CJ McCollum's explosive 46-point performance on 10 three-pointers. The Pacers hold a significant edge in this matchup, having won five straight games against Washington at home, with the Wizards' last victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse dating back to October 2022. Indiana has also won their last five consecutive matchups against Washington overall , giving them a clear psychological advantage heading into this Friday night showdown.