The Pacers are trying to restart a familiar engine, but one key driver is still waiting on the sideline. When Denver visits Indiana on Saturday at 5 p.m. EST, Tyrese Haliburton remains out with a hamstring injury. That makes this regular-season game a challenge for a Pacers team that has been building toward its return to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Indiana stood 3-6 through Thursday, Nov. 5, but its latest win offered a useful clue. The Pacers held off Memphis 107-103 by making enough stops late, a strong response after two close losses. Their season has not been smooth, yet the group still has quick guards, active forwards, and several ways to create open shots.

Without Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard becomes even more important. He averages 19 points and nearly seven assists, showing he can score while also setting up teammates. Pascal Siakam is the other big force. The strong, skilled forward averages 21.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, and he can attack from different spots on the floor. Indiana needs Nembhard and Siakam to keep the ball moving, because its 15.8 turnovers per game have given opponents too many extra chances.

The Pacers also need size to matter. Ivica Zubac can battle near the basket, grab rebounds, and finish close to the rim. That work becomes especially important against Nikola Jokic, Denver’s powerful center and brilliant passer. Jokic is nearly averaging a triple-double, which means he regularly fills the stat sheet with points, rebounds, and assists. He can score himself, then flip the game with a sharp pass to a cutting teammate.

Denver, 4-3 through Nov. 5, arrives after a 128-109 win over Toronto. The Nuggets score 115.4 points per game and shoot 49 percent from the field, signs of an offense that usually finds clean looks. Jamal Murray leads that charge with 25.4 points per game. He is hitting more than half of his three-point tries, so Indiana cannot lose track of him when Jokic sets screens to free him up.

Aaron Gordon adds another problem for Indiana. He cuts hard toward the hoop and uses his strength around the rim. Denver also creates 10.7 steals per game, far more than Indiana’s 7.8. If the Nuggets swipe loose passes, Murray and Gordon can race into the open floor before the Pacers set their defense.

Indiana’s home crowd can give its young season a lift, and Siakam has the tools to make Denver work at both ends. Still, Haliburton’s absence removes Indiana’s top creator, while Denver has the steadier record and the Jokic-Murray partnership rolling. The Nuggets should win by controlling the ball, sharing it patiently, and making their size count near the basket.

Jamal Murray Brings Denver’s Fast Start to Indiana