The San Antonio Spurs head into Friday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers with a clear opportunity to build on their excellent start to the season, even without one of their best players. San Antonio has a 24-9 record and is coming off a win over another elite team, while the Pacers have struggled mightily at 6-28. Indiana will attempt to end a long losing streak at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis here, and you can find my Spurs vs Pacers prediction below.
Our Spurs vs Pacers Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: San Antonio Spurs @ Indiana Pacers
- Date & Time: Friday, January 2, 2026, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
Injury news is a significant factor going into this game. San Antonio will be without Victor Wembanyama, who suffered a hyperextended knee in their recent win over the New York Knicks and has been ruled out for this contest. Devin Vassell is also unavailable due to a left adductor strain.
The absence of Wembanyama significantly impacts the Spurs’ interior presence on both ends of the floor, but San Antonio’s rotation has handled his previous absences well, going 12-3 in earlier games without him. The Spurs will lean on perimeter play and options like Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Julian Champagnie to fill the void.
Indiana’s injury woes continue as Tyrese Haliburton remains out for the season with an Achilles injury, and the Pacers are missing Obi Toppin and Isaiah Jackson. T.J. McConnell is listed as probable, but the core absence of Haliburton remains a major blow to Indiana’s offensive identity. That is one of the big reasons that the Pacers have lost 10 games in a row.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- This is the first matchup of the season between the Pacers and Spurs.
- San Antonio is 17-15-2 against the spread on the season.
- Indiana is 17-17 against the spread going into Friday night.
- The Spurs are 17-17 on over/unders this year.
- The under is 20-14 in games involving the Pacers this season.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| De’Aaron Fox | |
| Stephon Castle | |
| Pascal Siakam | |
| Andrew Nembhard |

