Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability | December 5, 2025

Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability | December 5, 2025

Go ahead. A lot of guys got going offensively in this game. What What did you make of the offensive process and the the way you guys scored the ball tonight? Did a lot of good things on offense. Um I thought, you know, for the period of the entire game, did a very good job making transition, getting back, um not not giving them a lot of transition points. I mean, they’re top two or three in the league. um very lethal and you know holding these guys to 105 is is doing a really solid job defensively. So um look was great, Matine was great. Um Nimhard got us off to a great start defensively and made big baskets down the stretch. Um you know Ethan Thompson um you know what a great job. you know what, you know, I talked to him this morning, told him to be ready. Um, you know, with Shep out, you know, we need that other guy and, uh, I decided to start in the second half, he just he was just very steady and um, played a very good all-around game. You tell a guy like that to be ready and then he ends up at 34 and a half minutes, which is second for you guys, I think he played almost 26 in a What did you like about the things he was doing even maybe compared to what you hoped he did in this game? Well, you said 26 in a row. It was there was halftime with 10 seconds. Oh, right. Yeah. I mean, look, he played a lot. I mean, but he’s been playing um he’s been playing G-League with Miami. You know, you know, you know, Miami is going to have a well conditioned team. Um he did not look tired. Um, and so, you know, look, I told them to be ready this morning. Um, we had a bunch of our interns here, um, so that they could play full court with with Quinton Jackson. You know, I called over here to uh to our trainer and they had just started playing full court and Ethan was in the game and I told her trainer to pull him out of the game because he’s good chance he’s going to play tonight. So, these guys played four pickup games today, you know, in the United Center. So, um that may have been the most important phone call of the day of the week, you know, but um happy for the kid, you know, he’s he’s uh we’re just getting to know him, you know, and he’s uh got great, you know, all the all the background information on him is is is wonderful. Well, I talked to JJ Berea two nights ago after the uh Denver game. Um he’s very familiar with him from the Puerto Rican national team and said that we would really like him and uh you know he he really came through for us. So I know you mentioned Pascal and Ben start but I mean just what impressed you about just their efficiency and obviously both of them made some big outside shots. Pascal seemed like he was really going with the mid-range. Just what do you like about how each of them approached this one with how they were able to get going on both ends? Both both of those guys defended pretty well as well. how they first Well, both of them kind of got going in transition early and uh so, you know, that was that’s key to get an early bucket or whatever. You know, Ben’s first bucket. Um, we were we were in the process of calling a set play and then Drew threw it to him and he beat his guy and and laid it in, you know, which was a which was an important play and got him off to, you know, start a good start on a 27 point night or whatever, whatever he had, 28. Um, so look, look, we wore Pascal out in the fourth quarter. Um, he he just, you know, he got the ball in the right places. He got the ball in the basket. He got to the free throw line. You know, made it hard for them to to come back. So, it was great. And, you know, first road win been a rough been a rough stretch. Um, that feels good for these guys and all of us. Um, and so, you know, we got a couple days now. We got to regroup on Sunday and get ready for Monday. You just mentioned, how’s he coming along? He’s He’s doing better. He’s doing better. Um, I don’t think Monday’s in the cards. Um maybe maybe at the end of next week, maybe the game Friday, he could be ready. You know, uh we’ll we’ll have some practice time between now and then. So, we’ll see what’s what. But, uh he is doing better and and and progressing. Ask about Drew real quick. You mentioned him defensively. Giddy Giddy went two of nine. I think he draws that assignment most of the time. Just where do you like about how he was able to to really stop him from getting getting down going and getting to the Andrew Nehard’s one of the best defenders in the world. You know, that’s it’s as simple as that. Whether you’re talking about on the ball or off the ball, in this case, Giddy’s one of the hardest guys to guard. I mean, he’s a triple double machine. Um they play super fast and create a lot of space with shooting fives and everything else. And um he did some job of busting over screens, getting square um and making it difficult, you know. So, um, a lot of elements right now have to be in place for us to, you know, be be an effective road team against a team like Chicago. And, uh, you know, Drew was Drew was tremendous, Pascal was tremendous, Matin was great. You know, we talked about Thompson. I thought our centers played very well. You know, Jay protected the rim again and and hit some big shots and and Isaiah is very active, you know. Um, and and look, TJ played well. Matthews hit a huge shot in the fourth quarter. Um, we needed everybody. You have, I think, three games only over the next almost two weeks after a pretty packed November schedule because of, you know, that the NBA. Do you view this as an opportunity to either reset or practice more or, you know, something after that that long pack schedule? Yeah. Yeah. It’s similar situation to last year. um there’s a pretty significant chunk of time um early next week and then the following week as well, you know. So, um plus we have a two-day break here, you know, and so, you know, we’ll see what Sunday looks like, but um yeah, I mean, this is one kind of an annual it’s kind of an annual thing now with with all the teams. everybody waits to, you know, is trying to get into the cup finals and all that kind of stuff. Um, but then you’re waiting to see if you don’t qualify, you’re waiting to see, you know, who you play when. And there there is some there there is some variation as to which days that can be. So, uh, we have Friday, Sunday, which is which is fine, you know, which is fine. So, we’ve got to we’ve got to take the best advantage of it that we can. Thanks, everyone. Appreciate So, I think I was just I was just more more locked in and understood certain parts of the game where I had to really lock in, get over screens, stuff like that. When you said you’re talking about just being more organized, I guess elaborate a little bit. I mean, what do you feel like you guys How were you more or organized tonight? What were some things that you guys were more disciplined about? Understanding when to be opportunistic in transition and when to cool off and maybe set something enough to get a good look. That’s a little more process throughout the clock. So, what impressed you about just Pascal and Benedict and just the the shots that they made? Was just steady throughout the game. Um, someone we we relied on throughout the game just consistent buckets and then um Ben didn’t force it. Just came to him nicely. Um, and you know, you can score the ball, make shots. How big is it just to get a road win just to finally get one of those on the board? First one. Yep, man. Feels good. Appreciate Drew just said you felt like there was you guys made more point to have a little bit more organization out there. Guys be a little more deliberate about uh you know when you were attacking transition when you guys were slowing it up. Just what did you like about how the offense worked as a whole tonight? Um I think we did a pretty good job. I think that um the ball was flowing a little bit more. Um we were able to knock down some shots. Pete was uh phenomenal. you know, he was able to get a bucket every every time down the floor. So, it’s pretty much what we need from him. What just what worked for you shooting wise? Obviously, six out of 11. Just what you like about the rhythm, you know. What’s that? Said dang. It was going in going in. I work uh I work very hard. So, God bless. The shots went in. Um looking forward to do it again on Monday. You Jay connected quite a few times tonight. What’s it been like with a new center working through where each other’s spots are? How, you know, playing off each other, things like that? Got to get my assist up. Told him, man, if you want the ball, you got to roll. You know what I’m saying? You got to pop once in a while. So, um, you know, just just being able to stay connected with the team. You know, we have a lot of different guys on the team who bring different values on this team. So, pretty much it’s about keep keep staying locked, knowing each other’s um strengths and moving forward. You guys didn’t have Ethan six days ago. Today he’s playing 34 minutes for you guys. What impressed you about all of that performance that he gave you? He got a chance to play, man. You know, you got to make the most out of it. He stepped in. He was pretty confident. So, it’s this what we need from him just to go out there and give us a boost. Um, I’m super happy for him, man. You know, just being able to get the opportunity to go out there and and show out in front of the people and um, you know, and actually playing well. So, on both sides of the ball. All right. I think uh so Rick said that today he literally called over uh to get you out of a pickup game with Quenton. What was uh just you know what was that like basically? I mean did you know just what was like just to hear that and then getting on the floor tonight and sticking there and just what it all definitely um you know we had shoot around and then the stay ready group after getting ready to play in that and then they they pulled me off the court said you know there’s a chance we might be playing tonight. So obviously that’s that’s anything that that I wanted to hear and um you know they guys have been doing a good good job of you know keeping me on track so I could um try to make this transition as smooth as possible. So shout out to them for for keeping me prepared and then um yeah just trying to stay ready and make the most of the opportunity. What do you have a question? I do actually. What in the world was that move you made in the first half to spin moves, step back? Something I’ve been working on. I don’t I don’t know how to explain, but shout out Penny Hardway. [Music] What the I mean, it seemed like you were able to sort of get a comfort level within a few possessions. It seemed like you get out there and seems like it took you a minute to figure it out, but especially the way these guys play, the free flowing nature of it, what did it take to kind of get a rhythm with them and get an understanding of who you’re operating with? Yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, as soon as, um, you know, I got the call from my agent, I try to watch as much film on the team as possible. Um, and then the staff has has done a good job as well, um, of, you know, being able to teach me concepts offensively, defensively, and then the players as well walking me through stuff, um, talking me through stuff, and then, you know, when I make a mistake, they correct me and and get me right back on track. So, I do appreciate that, and it’s making it a lot smoother than, you know, if if I I was out here just trying to figure it out on my own. So, shout out to them. What’s the the first three goes in and what goes through your mind at that point? I mean, you you’ve you’ve had a shot before and you said that eased you a little bit, but when you’re in a game that counts at a time that counts and you hit one, just what does that feel like and how did that get you? Definitely uh seeing one goes in definitely kind of calms the nerves a little bit. Um and you know, kind of be like, “Okay, I’m here now.” Like like let’s let’s hoop. But um definitely uh shout out to Jay for for making that pass out of the pocket and you know, I was able to knock it down. Has what just happened hit you yet? I mean, you weren’t on a team six days ago and then you have a game like that with your called upon in your first, you know, rotation opportunity. Appreciate you. Yeah. No, I mean, definitely. Um, you know, just trying to stay. This is something that I’ve I’ve worked for for a long time. Um, and you know, when an opportunity comes, um, you know, you just surrender the moment to God and and let him do the rest. So, that’s that’s what I’ve been been what’s been what’s keeping me leveled for sure. What was it like walking off? You do radio interview and people are chanting Mr. Thompson from the crowd. What was that feel like? No, I mean it’s it’s a great feeling, but but all glory to God for sure. Um but definitely um you know a situation that that I’ve been working towards and I’m I’m glad I’m here for for this opportunity. Do you get I mean you were basically in for 18 straight minutes. I mean do you does that hit you while it’s happening? Do you get a sense and do you get a sense of the faith that you’re getting out of that and then getting you know to start the second quarter? How does that all play into to your mindset as you’re playing and kind of the understand the man like Rick’s really you know letting me go here. No, definitely. I mean that that gives me all the confidence in the world. Um I feel like you know that that I was doing um you know the right things, you know what I mean? So um and then for him to have that belief in me and that faith in me to you know keep me out there for that long stint and then to to you know play me the minutes that he did. Um you know again grateful for the opportunity and um just trying to stay ready. So yeah. Did you have a moment or play where you finally felt settled in? Was it that first made shot? Was it a defensive play? Um, yeah. I think I think it was the assist to to Pete in transition. Um, I think that that seeing that him hit that shot off of off of my pass, I think that’s something that that settled me for sure.

Rick Carlisle, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin and Ethan Thompson spoke with the media following a 120-105 win against the Bulls on Friday night.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle
7:10 – Andrew Nembhard
8:11 – Bennedict Mathurin
9:57 – Ethan Thompson