The Indiana Pacers are in Paris to take on the San Antonio Spurs and their French-born superstar Victor Wembanyama on Thursday. The Pacers arrived Monday morning and will be there through Saturday's game and don't have another game in the U.S. until Wednesday at home against the Pistons.

But why the Pacers? Well, look at a map of Indiana. Terre Haute, Lafayette, Vincennes, Versailles, French Lick, Notre Dame, LaPorte, La Crosse, La Fountaine, Napoleon, Orleans.

They've seen the Eiffel Tower. They've had great food. They've enjoyed some of the best that Paris has to offer. And they've ... been driven down the wrong side of busy roads? Welcome to Paris, Spurs and Pacers.

Welcome home, Wemby. For the first time as an NBA player, Wembanyama played in his homeland on Thursday — the star attraction in this two-game set of games between San Antonio and Indiana, a series that concludes on Saturday night.

On Thursday, the Indiana Pacers will play the first of their long-awaited Paris games against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, will certainly have the crowd on their side, although the Pacers have only lost one game this month and the Spurs are in the middle of a slow streak.

SportsLine's model just revealed its NBA picks and predictions for San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers on Thursday in Paris, France

Tyrese Haliburton is back in Paris where he won a gold medal this summer, but he played the fewest minutes of any member of Team USA in France.

All-Star Tyrese Haliburton told NBA Europe the proposal was the best part of the Paris trip so far. "Well Obi got engaged, so that was pretty cool. Puts some pressure on me now, though, so that's awesome,

Here are the top off-court moments as the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers are in Paris for a double header starting on Thursday.

Jan 18, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) dribbles the ball while Philadelphia 76ers guard Ricky Council IV (14) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The first enormous roar from the crowd came before the game even started. All Victor Wembanyama needed to do to get the fans in Paris into a full-blown frenzy was, it turned out, say hello into a microphone.