The Pacers are in Paris because someone has to be the opponent to French phenom Victor Wembanyama, but they're getting everything out of the trip.

The Indiana Pacers are in Paris this week to play two games against the San Antonio Spurs. We know why the Spurs are playing in Paris: Victor Wembanyama. But why the Pacers? Well, look at a map of Indiana.

It won't happen, and nobody knows when — or if — Popovich will be back on the Spurs' sideline. Popovich's absence is a glaring one in Paris this week for the pair of NBA matchups between the Pacers and Spurs on Thursday and Saturday; he's back home, recovering from a November stroke.

Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner had never been to Paris before this week. "It's been a whirlwind," Turner said, as the Pacers prepare to play the San Antonio Spurs in the French capital as part of the NBA's Paris Games 2025.

The main events start Thursday when Wembanyama and the Spurs take on the Indiana Pacers in the first of two games in Paris. The rematch is Saturday, both happening at Accor Arena, the same building where Wembanyama played in the knockout round of the Paris Olympics last summer when he and France wound up losing to the U.S. in the gold-medal game.

The Indiana Pacers meet Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs twice in Paris. Here are the stats, lineups and predictions.

Pregame analysis and predictions of the San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers NBA game to be played on January 23, 2025 on ESPN.

Caitlin Clark turned 23 on Wednesday. And as a birthday gift of sorts, Tyrese Haliburton offered her some more high praise. Haliburton stars for the Indiana Pacers.