Haliburton: "There's standards that we didn't meet"

Indiana won 19 games last season, the fewest in franchise history, and oddsmakers project 44.5 wins this time. Tyrese Haliburton told ESPN's Jamal Collier the title ambition has "never wavered," and GM Chad Buchanan is counting on Haliburton's return and new center Ivica Zubac. In Friday's finale, a 128-127 overtime loss to Milwaukee, Haliburton had 17 points and 6 assists in 20 minutes and Pascal Siakam scored 24 on 8-of-10. Aaron Nesmith returned to practice from a hamstring injury and looks likely for the opener against New Orleans on October 21; T.J. McConnell's status is unclear.