Indiana's Rick Carlisle has coached more games against San Antonio's Gregg Popovich than anyone else. They've had 87 head-to-head matchups, including playoffs. Thursday was supposed to be No. 88. It won't happen,

"We're going to throw everything we got at him just try do what we can go get a win," said Turner. "They are a tightknit group. They are guys who grind and hustle, so you know, we have to kind of match that intensity and supersede that.

Wembanyama was born and raised in Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, a western Paris suburb, and has made it a focus this week to introduce his teammates to Parisian culture and the life he led before he became the NBA Rookie of the Year and likely next face of the league.

The teams arrived in Paris on Monday, with practices and other events scheduled throughout the week and then the games toward the end. The Spurs were coming straight from the airport to a light workout in Nanterre — on the court that Wembanyama called home when started his pro career in the French league as a 15-year-old.

The Indiana Pacers will play two games in a row against the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama in France.

The Indiana Pacers arrived in Paris this week for a pair of games against the San Antonio Spurs. This marks the first time the NBA will play two regular-season games in the French capital in the same season.

He's the star, he's the host, the hometown kid, the conquering hero, the center of attention this week. Wembanyama is handling all those roles — and probably more — in stride, in ways that make you forget he only just turned 21 this month.

Wembanyama is back in his home country as the Spurs take on the Pacers in the 2025 NBA Paris Games. Victor Wembanyama is back in Paris with the the Spurs for the NBA Paris Games 2025. • Get NBA League Pass TODAY NANTERRE,