More on: Indiana Pacers · Memphis Grizzlies

Indiana Pacers vs Memphis Grizzlies recap: final score and what we learned (Week of Nov 5–11, 2026)

NBA Audit · Week of Nov 5–11, 2026 · Game recap

The Indiana Pacers went to Memphis and won 107–103, which runs straight against what we wrote in the preview. We picked the Grizzlies, and that pick was wrong. For a Pacers team that had won just two of its previous eight, a road win by four is a real exhale. For a Memphis team that had won six of its last seven, it's a loss that should sting, because the box score says this one was there for the taking.

The result

Start with what didn't separate these teams. Both shot 45 percent from the field. Memphis made 41 of 91 and Indiana made 40 of 88, so the floor-game was close to a coin flip. Both teams also made 12 threes.

The difference was what it took to get there. Memphis needed 44 attempts from deep and hit 27 percent. Indiana needed 37 and hit 32 percent. That's a lot of empty trips for the Grizzlies, and over a four-point game, empty trips matter.

Then there's the free-throw line, where this game quietly tilted. Indiana went 15 of 17, 88 percent. Memphis went 9 of 15, 60 percent. When a game is decided by four, those are the possessions you circle.

Memphis did win some categories. It had 48 rebounds to Indiana's 43, including 13 offensive boards to 8, and it had 28 assists to 22. Indiana had 10 steals to Memphis's 8 and committed 16 fouls to the Grizzlies' 18. The Grizzlies did plenty of things that usually win games. They just didn't convert enough of them.

How our preview held up

Not well, and we should say so plainly. We leaned on Memphis's scoring rate of 121 points per game against Indiana's 114.4, and on the defensive gap of 110.4 allowed against 116.5. We also leaned on recent form. All of that pointed one way, and the game went the other.

The preview did get one thing right. We said Indiana's best path was to stay in range and keep Memphis from living on extra chances. The Pacers were within four at the end, and while Memphis did collect those 13 offensive rebounds, they didn't turn into a win.

The miss was in treating season-long numbers as close to destiny. We wrote that Memphis was the more complete team and that we expected it to show up. In this game, the more complete team lost at the free-throw line and from three-point range. Averages describe a team over a stretch, but a single night can look nothing like them.

What it means

For Indiana, this is a result worth enjoying but not over-reading. One win doesn't answer the defensive questions we raised, and the Pacers still have to show they can string stops together. But they found a way to win a game that was close, and for a team that had been struggling, that has real value.

For Memphis, the concern isn't the loss itself so much as the shape of it. The Grizzlies took 44 threes and made 27 percent of them. If that is going to be a regular part of the offense, nights like this will happen. The numbers that made them a strong pick are still real. One loss by four doesn't erase them. But it's a reminder that the margin between a good team and a beaten one can be a handful of free throws and a few missed threes.

Read our pre-game preview: Indiana Pacers vs Memphis Grizzlies prediction and preview: team news, form and key matchups (Nov 4)

Final score

Team stats

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is sports analytics commentary—not gambling advice, not investment advice, and not a prediction of guaranteed outcomes. We do not promote sportsbooks or wagering. Always verify statistics against official league sources.

Content is intended for a general sports audience interested in stats and trends. We do not target minors with wagering messages.

Data attribution: Stats for informational analysis only. Verify figures against official league sources.