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Pacers turn ball over 19 times to doom offense in 125-106 loss to Grizzlies

Micah Potter had another strong game (18 points, 2-of-3 on 3s, 9 rebounds) but the Pacers lose 125-106 to Memphis

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Pacers turn ball over 19 times to doom offense in 125-106 loss to Grizzlies

Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star

Mon, March 2, 2026 at 12:32 AM UTC·
3 min read

INDIANAPOLIS -- Forward Taylor Hendricks scored 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers, to lead the Grizzlies to a 125-106 win over the Pacers on Sunday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Pacers fell to 15-46, staying in last place in the Eastern Conference ahead of only the Kings in the NBA overall standings. The Grizzlies improved to 23-36 and sit in 11th in the West.

Guard Jaylen Wells scored 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting for the Grizzlies. Center Olivier Maxence-Prosper had 17 points. Guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and forward Rayan Rupert had 16 points each. Point guard Walter Clayton Jr. had 15 assists. Forward Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 21 points. Center Micah Potter added 18.

Pacers doomed by turnovers

With Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Pascal Siakam out and Ivica Zubac still yet to don a Pacers uniform in a game, it was to be expected that the team the Pacers put out on the floor would have some issues with synergy. They did, and that manifested in 19 turnovers that derailed a fairly decent shooting night and also led to the Grizzlies getting lots of easy baskets.

Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown (24) rushes up the court for the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Rayan Rupert (32) on Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) goes in to dunk the ball Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) loses control of the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) on Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Pacers gather together Sunday, March 1, 2026, ahead of the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown (24) fights for the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Rayan Rupert (32) on Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) dunks the ball Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown (24) searches to pass the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) on Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle yells to players on the court Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) goes in to dunk the ball Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

Indiana Pacers gather together Sunday, March 1, 2026, ahead of the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

Indiana Pacers guard Kobe Brown (24) fights for the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Rayan Rupert (32) on Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) dunks the ball Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

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See photos from the Indiana Pacers against the Memphis Grizzlies

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle yells to players on the court Sunday, March 1, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Pacers shot 48.8% from the floor but took 14 fewer shots than the Grizzlies and made nine fewer. They knocked down 15 3-pointers on 39 attempts for a healthy 38.5% clip, but the 19 giveaways dragged down their efficiency number to 1.06 points per possession. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies scored 25 points off turnovers to the Pacers' 12, recorded 21 fast-break points to the Pacers' eight and 60 paint points to the Pacers' 40.

Micah Potter goes for double figures again

Since the Pacers traded Isaiah Jackson for Ivica Zubac, and since Zubac has been on the shelf with an ankle injury, Micah Potter has been a constant in the Pacers rotation with he and Jay Huff being the only options at center. With Pascal Siakam out and Obi Toppin on a minutes restriction, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has also experimented with lineups that put Potter and Huff on the floor at the same time. Potter is making the most of his opportunity.

Sunday's game marked Potter's third straight double figure game and his seventh in his last eight games. He scored 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting, including 2 of 3 from beyond the 3-point line. He was already over 40% from 3 on the season coming into the night and he continues to be a threat as a pick-and-pop option but also as a spacer in the corner. He also had nine rebounds.

Potter is one of the few players on the Pacers roster to whom performance really matters down the stretch. He has a club option for next season. Picking up that option would probably be the easiest way to ensure the Pacers have a third center behind Zubac and Huff, but his production is still relevant.

Obi Toppin with five assists in second game back

Rick Carlisle made clear in his pre-game press conference that Obi Toppin's minutes will be limited the rest of the season and that he won't play a "full set" at any point this year. That said, Toppin is showing some good signs in his limited time on the floor.

The Pacers forward started again in his second game back and played 11 minutes and 10 seconds -- all in the first half -- after playing 8:29 in Thursday's loss to Charlotte. Toppin made an impact on both ends in his limited minutes but was particularly effective as a passer, which is an underrated part of his game.

Toppin scored the game's first points with a baseline jumper and that was his only field goal as he scored two more on free throws for four points. However, he grabbed four rebounds and two steals and also dished out five assists against zero turnovers. The assists are one short of a career high. The Pacers were +6 in his minutes.

*Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter*.

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