Where to watch Spurs vs. Pacers: Live stream, TV channel for NBA Paris Games, three things to know

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are set to play the Indiana Pacers in a two-game collection in Paris, beginning on Thursday. It should function a homecoming of types for Wembanyama, who’s a French native and just lately helped lead the French nationwide crew to a silver medal on the 2024 Paris Olympics final summer time.

Within the lead as much as the 2 matchups, Wembanyama has been busy exhibiting his teammates round his dwelling nation and giving again to the neighborhood, which was highlighted by a court docket unveiling in his hometown. The primary sport of this collection suggestions off at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, and the second sport is on Saturday. Within the meantime, this is every part you’ll want to know concerning the matchup and all of the fanfare surrounding it.

Spurs vs. Pacers data

Time: 2 p.m ET | Date: Thursday, Jan. 23
Location: Accor Area — Paris, France
TV channel: NBA TV | Streaming: fubo (Attempt it without cost)

Wembanyama’s first NBA sport in Paris

The NBA would possibly as nicely name this week “Wemby Week” as he is been the central focus of this whole ordeal, and rightfully so. Wembanyama entered the NBA as essentially the most heralded prospect since LeBron James, and has shortly lived as much as the hype simply 1.5 years into his profession. This marks the primary time Wembanyama will swimsuit up for the Spurs in his dwelling nation, so clearly, there’s a ton of pleasure round it.

All week, the Spurs huge man has been seen round Paris and his hometown of Le Chesnay. He is been serving to with basketball clinics, donating basketball courts that he designed and exhibiting his teammates his native stomping grounds. He even organized a dinner for his teammates on the primary night time they spent in Paris.

“[Gregg Popovich] had a schedule right here, you understand. I do know he would have carried out one thing like that, too,” Wembanyama stated. “Doing that on the primary day was vital for me. It was a welcome to my crew to point out them as a result of I do know if I went to any of those guys’ nation or metropolis, I’d have gotten to seek out out about the place they arrive from to study to know them higher as a result of they’re all good human beings. It is an actual probability to share these moments collectively.”

NBA stacking up common season video games in Paris

These two video games will mark the fourth and fifth time the NBA will play common season video games in Paris, all of which have occurred since 2020. The league has performed dozens of preseason video games in Paris, 90+ video games to be actual, however it wasn’t till just lately that the league began holding common season video games there. Final season the Cavaliers and Nets took the journey, whereas the Bulls and Pistons and Bucks and Hornets have been the earlier two matchups earlier than that. However by no means has the league spent a two-game collection in Paris, till now.

The reason being apparent, as Wembanyama is being marketed as one of many future faces of the subsequent technology of the NBA. Nevertheless it goes past the reigning Rookie of the Yr. France produces essentially the most NBA gamers outdoors of the US and Canada, with 14 within the league this season, essentially the most ever for the nation. France additionally turned the primary nation outdoors of the US to have two gamers chosen No. 1 general in back-to-back drafts, as Wemby was the highest choice in 2023, and Zaccharie Risacher went first to the Hawks in 2024. The league sees that France is turning into a hotspot for basketball and NBA expertise, and these Paris video games are a good way to acknowledge that.

Do not sleep on the Pacers

The Spurs would possibly get all the eye, and each matchups will possible be dwelling video games for San Antonio, however that does not imply Indiana goes to make it straightforward on them. Indiana is coming into these two matchups as winners of 8 of their final 10 video games. Because the new yr, Indiana has had the second greatest win proportion within the league.

Pascal Siakam has led the cost for the Pacers, whereas Tyrese Haliburton appears to be rounding again into his All-Star kind. Haliburton struggled with effectivity to begin the season, however in January, he is posting season-best numbers, capturing 50% from the sphere and 40.7% from 3-point vary whereas averaging 19 factors in eight video games. It is not fairly the identical numbers as he had a season in the past when he made Third Crew All-NBA, however it’s a major enchancment from how he was taking part in a month in the past.

With these two on the helm and a protection that has been fourth within the league this month, the Pacers are nicely positioned to win each of those video games, even in an atmosphere that closely favors the Spurs.