INDIANAPOLIS — Following a three-game road trip, the Indiana Pacers returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first contest in a four-game home stand.
On Star Wars night, the Blue and Gold defeated the Washington Wizards 115-103.
Indiana is still missing several players due to injury, including two starters. Head coach Rick Carlisle emphasized leaning on the rest of the roster, and their two stars especially.
“We're without some of our key players for how we play, and so everybody's got to pick up their game and particularly the best players. So [Tyrese] and Pascal really picked it up tonight.”
Leading the way was forward Pascal Siakam, who finished with 22 points, six assists and six rebounds, shooting 50 percent from the field (7/14) and 67 percent from three-point range (2/3).
Guard Tyrese Haliburton scored 21 points to go with nine assists and four rebounds while shooting 39 percent from the field (7/18) and 45 percent from the perimeter (5/11). 14 of those points came in the third quarter alone.
“I thought in the second half, he really picked up his defense, and that really ignited his offense.” Carlisle said. “In the first half, he took some shots that were difficult shots, and they're just hard shots to make. Second half, he did a much better job of engineering, the right place for himself and teammates.”
Haliburton has been struggling this season, averaging 15.5 points per game shooting only 38 percent from the field and 29 percent from deep, all declines from his All-Star season a year ago. While the discourse on the internet has been harsh, his teammates have had his back the entire way.
“I tell him that obviously we [are] all with him. I'm with him. It's not [just] on him. He doesn't have to hold all this on him. It's on all of us. We're not playing well as a team.” Siakam said. “He puts so much work in. He's in the gym every single day. He has a good spirit, he plays for his teammates. That's what I try to tell him, [don’t] put so much pressure on every shot. Just play the game.”
This game was a good sign for Pacers fans, as Haliburton looked aggressive on offense and shot better.
In the first half, the Pacers struggled to find a rhythm offensively, and it led to some poor shot selections and percentages. After Myles Turner was forced to the bench with two early fouls, newly acquired center Moses Brown was thrust into the game.
“Moses brown gave us an amazing lift in this game. He went in early when Myles [Turner] got the two fouls, and he immediately scored eight points. He just is a real rim presence and he attacks the basket.
“We play a different defensive system than he's played in the past, but he's working and adapting. He's a great kid, and he really appreciates this opportunity.” Carlisle said.
This was Brown’s first game in a Pacers uniform, but it’s his sixth season in the league. While he was already aware of Indiana’s style of basketball, he was excited to be a part of it.
“I played against them here, and it's been hard, just the way [the Pacers] go, get up and down, and their aggressiveness and the way [the Pacers] play defense, the connective-ness. I definitely felt embraced.” Brown said. “I felt like I was a part of that tonight, especially with the crowd embracing me every time I had a play. It felt good.”
Brown led all scorers in the first half with 11 points (4/4 FG) to go with three rebounds.
Although the Pacers struggled with offensive continuity, they shot the ball well in the first half in what was a very back-and-forth affair, seeing 12 ties and ten lead changes. Washington was able to get Indiana out of its rotations defensively, leading to some good looks, and the Wizards cashed in on them, leading 59-57 going into halftime.
It was the second half that saw Indiana take the lead and begin to separate.
“We had defense in front of us in the second half, that [helped]. [The] second half helps the guys realize the kind of game it was.” Carlisle said. “We were better at keeping their driver's square in front of us, and we made some good things happen offensively.”
Halfway through the third quarter the Pacers took the lead and never relinquished it. Siakam says that it all starts with their defense.
“There was a time in the third where [there were] like, six minutes left or something like that, and we got a lot of stops in a row. That's the difference between the losses. We have to have more of those moments where it's not back and forth [and] we get a couple of stops in a row and sit down, defend, get steals [and] we get easy layups.” Siakam said. “That's when we are best, and I think that our defense helps us do that. I thought that was the change.”
Benedict Mathurin put in with 16 points, Brown finished with 15 and T.J. McConnell had 12.
Indiana continues its home stretch tomorrow, Nov. 25 when the Pelicans come to town.
Contact Derran Cobb via email at derrancobb@gmail.com or on X @Derran_cobb.
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