Two of last season’s playoff powerhouses square off Sunday as the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have reached the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons. The Pacers have stumbled out of the gate with two straight losses while dealing with a long list of injuries, while the Timberwolves have split their first two games.
Here’s a preview of Sunday’s Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game, scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET at Target Center in Minnesota.
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### Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview and Odds
**Moneyline:**
Pacers (+390) vs Timberwolves (-510)
**Spread:**
Pacers +11.5 (-110) vs Timberwolves -11.5 (-110)
**Total (O/U):**
Pacers O 229.5 (-110) vs Timberwolves U 229.5 (-110)
*Editor’s note: The odds could change closer to the game. The odds listed are based on the information available at the time of writing.*
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### Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview
The Pacers opened the season with a Finals rematch against the Oklahoma City Thunder, pushing the defending champions to double overtime despite missing several key guards due to injuries and foul trouble. Ultimately, they fell short. Their struggles continued Saturday as they fell to 0-2 following a blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Indiana was without Quenton Jackson, Johnny Furphy, Kam Jones, Tyrese Haliburton, T.J. McConnell, and Andrew Nembhard, while Benedict Mathurin also exited the game with an injury. As of 1:30 a.m., Indiana had yet to release its injury report for Sunday’s contest, but the team will likely lean heavily on Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith, who are averaging 22.5 and 10.0 points per game, respectively. That task won’t be easy, especially if both Nembhard and Mathurin remain sidelined.
The Timberwolves are coming off a 1-1 road trip and will look to make a statement in their home opener. Anthony Edwards has been electric to start the season, averaging 36.0 points per game, while Julius Randle is contributing 22.5 points per game.
Minnesota’s scoring has not been an issue, but their defense has been, ranking third-worst in the league through two games. Rudy Gobert remains the defensive anchor, but the Timberwolves will need a team effort to clean up their defensive lapses. Their injury list is relatively short, with rookie Rob Dillingham listed as questionable due to a nasal fracture.
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### Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Predicted Starting Lineups
**Pacers:**
G Ben Sheppard | G RayJ Dennis | F Aaron Nesmith | F Pascal Siakam | C James Wiseman
**Timberwolves:**
G Donte DiVincenzo | G Anthony Edwards | F Jaden McDaniels | F Julius Randle | C Rudy Gobert
*Editor’s note: These are the predicted lineups and could change based on player availability.*
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### Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction
Despite being short-handed, the Pacers have shown resilience and could surprise the Timberwolves. Their bench has proven capable of stepping up when needed, as seen during last season’s playoff run. Expect Indiana’s offense to exploit Minnesota’s shaky defense and secure its first win of the season.
**Our prediction:** Pacers win by 11.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/indiana-pacers-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-spurs-preview-prediction-oct-26-2025-26-nba-season
