Nam Y. Huh/AP
It would seem like dark days for organizations like Indiana and Dallas.
After all, both entered Thursday sitting firmly in the projected draft lottery with a combined seven wins between them.
Dark days couldn’t be further from the truth, however. Losing for both could lead to winning, and in a big way.
The Pacers currently have the worst record in the Association, fresh off a run in the NBA Finals last season. One small oversight. They will be without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) for the year, lost Myles Turner to Milwaukee in free agency, and have been plagued by other injuries to the likes of Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith.