Guide, odds, predictions and more

On Friday night, two 2-3 clubs have a chance to improve to a .500 record in their young season – or risk falling to a troubling 2-4 start. The much healthier Indiana Pacers travel to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The action begins at 8:00 p.m. PT at New Orleans' home stadium, the Smoothie King Center. Pacers fans can tune in via FanDuel Sports Network Midwest.

According to betting aggregator The Action Network, Indiana entered the race as a -2-point favorite earlier in the day, but is now still a modest favorite at -4.5 points. Given the Pelicans' health issues (see below), that seems somewhat optimistic. The Pacers appeared to regain their 2023-24 form against the Boston Celtics with a narrow 135-132 overtime win on Wednesday. Can you transfer this to Friday?

Look for Indiana to overtake the Pelicans. All-Star Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton got off to a miserable start this season, but he's made up for it with his talent as a passer. Pascal Siakam, a former two-time All-Star power forward for Indiana, takes over as the club's leading scorer. The 6-foot-8 New Mexico State product is averaging 20.6 points on .547/.458/.625 shooting splits, 7.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 0.8 steals per night.

Both clubs are in pretty bad shape.

According to the league's latest injury report, three Pelicans starters from Day 1 will be deferred. Starting point guard Dejounte Murray is sidelined indefinitely with a fractured left hand, starting shooting guard CJ McCollum is out for the next two to three weeks with a sore right adductor muscle, and small-ball starting center Herb Jones is out with a strained ankle right hand from shoulder. The nominal replacements for Murray, Jordan Hawkins, and Jones, Daniel Theis, are also considered questionable. Hawkins is dealing with lower back spasms while Theis is dealing with a sore left ankle. A deep bench center, Yves Missi, is also questionable with a bruised right abdomen. Forward Trey Murphy III is sidelined with a right hamstring strain. However, oft-injured Pelicans All-Star forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson are surprisingly healthy.

Two-way Pacers player Quenton Jackson is likely, while his two-way compatriot Tristen Newton will miss the proceedings. It's questionable whether starting center Myles Turner will be able to play due to a left ankle sprain – but his backup, James Wiseman, is likely out for most of the year with a torn left Achilles tendon.

More Pacers: 3 Pelicans starters ruled out against Indiana