While the hope of qualifying for the play-in now rests on the thickness of a thread, Brooklyn is far from having given up at the end of the season, as the Pacers were able to attest yesterday.
It took more than a half for Indiana to take a solid lead against the clingy Nets, even if they ended up letting go in the last act. To compensate for Tyrese Haliburton's lack of skill, it was Pascal Siakam who raised the level (28 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 interceptions).
In diesel mode, Indiana gained momentum in each quarter, but the start was difficult! Manhandled by the Schroder-Johnson-Finney-Smith trio, the locals were up to 9 lengths behind after conceding a 9-2 concluded by Cam Thomas (18-27), very present despite his two errors conceded very early in the game. Indiana then suffered against Dennis Smith Jr. then on two 3-point baskets signed by the pair Schroder-Finney-Smith (36-44), but did not give in to panic.
There was then a 10-0 concluded by Aaron Nesmith's 3-pointer to put Indy in the lead (46-44), then a new feat from Aaron Nesmith with an “and-one” basket and a tap by Obi Toppin to allow the Pacers to spend the halftime warm (59-57).
Despite their chronic clumsiness at 3-points, illustrated by its leader Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana therefore relied on its defense to make the difference, limiting Brooklyn to 43 points after the break. There was a 16-3 at the end of the third quarter which relegated the Nets to a good distance (86-71), the New Yorkers failing to score in the game for six long minutes. Then in the last act, while Cam Thomas' 3-pointer brought Brooklyn to -8 (91-83), it was an 8-0 marked by three interceptions and fierce defensive sequences that Rick Carlisle's troops (finally) set sail.
Pascal Siakam set an example by not hesitating to throw himself on the ground to snatch a ball from the hands of Cam Thomas before finishing in transition. Andrew Nemhbard then TJ McConnell imitated him on a throw-in. Pascal Siakam added two more points, still on the counter-attack, until the deliverance, on the first 3-pointer of the evening scored by Tyrese Haliburton. At +19 5 minutes from the end (106-87), the locals could finally breathe and claim a precious but difficult victory (121-100).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Word to the defense. We had to wait for two highlights from the Pacers in the second half to see the match settle in their favor. A match in which they perhaps thought they would get the better of it without forcing too much. However, the Nets maintained the suspense for a long time, since they were still at -2 six minutes from the end of the third quarter. The locals therefore managed to rely on their defense to make the difference. There was this 16-3 during which Brooklyn failed to score in the game, and especially this incredible sequence during which Indiana increased the number of interceptions, drooling on the lips, to finally make the difference. At the end, the difference in the score does not at all reflect the difficulty encountered by Indiana in getting rid of these Nets…
– Tyrese in crisis. Tyrese Haliburton has been going through a new crisis of skill since the beginning of March and has once again suffered a lot in shooting, particularly at 3-points since he missed his first 8 attempts before hitting his only outside shot of the match, completely end of the fourth quarter, sounding like a small deliverance. More generally, the leader finished at 6/18 shooting, far from his usual standards. Is he still bothered by his injury, which seems to modify his support?
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
