Indiana Pacers vs Minnesota Timberwolves

The Pacers and Timberwolves are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Target Center in Minneapolis. The game is set to tip off at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM local Central). This contest is one of the early tune-ups of the preseason, giving both teams an opportunity to test rotations and assess player fitness ahead of the regular season.

Injuries and absence reports give the Pacers a more complicated roster picture than Minnesota, which enters the game at relatively full strength. Indiana will be without Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season following a right Achilles tendon tear. Additionally, guard Kam Jones is sidelined by a back issue, and Ben Sheppard is out with an undisclosed injury. The injury list also includes James Wiseman, Isaiah Jackson, Quenton Jackson, and Johnny Furphy, each listed as game-time decisions. On the Minnesota Timberwolves side, there is only a minor note: forward Leonard Miller has a right fifth finger laceration, but the team is otherwise expected to roll out largely its usual roster.

With that context, coaching tactics will likely lean toward experimentation and preservation. Indiana’s coach will almost certainly have to rely heavily on bench players and younger guards to compensate for Haliburton’s absence. Minnesota’s coaching staff, with a healthier roster, can run more standard rotations while also integrating bench depth. Analysts expect both teams to limit starter minutes, prioritize matchups, test small-ball lineups, and evaluate chemistry under pressure. Because preseason is less about results and more about preparation, both coaches will emphasize spacing, transition offense, and defensive cohesion.

In the media buildup, press previews emphasize how this game is more of an evaluation tool than a competitive battle. Coverage points out Indiana’s compromised backcourt and the challenge of reworking offensive sets without Haliburton. Minnesota is portrayed as having an edge in continuity and health, making this an interesting measuring stick for Indiana’s depth and ability to adapt. Betting previews also mention that spreads may be volatile given uncertain rotations and rest strategies.

In studio sessions and among analysts, attention is likely to focus on which role players step up in the absence of Indiana’s stars, and whether Minnesota’s reserves can maintain consistency when inserted into more minutes. Analysts will watch how Indiana’s young guards handle playmaking responsibilities, and whether Minnesota can use this game to reinforce its rotation depth. There is a consensus that while neither side will show their full hand, this game should yield valuable insights into bench strength, lineup flexibility, and how each team might adjust their season plan in response to injuries and roster strain.