For the last of the preseason, the Pacers and the Hornets of Tidjane Salaün decided to approach the meeting like a regular season match, and it was Myles Turner who set the tone. Faced with a formation that is still so destitute under the circles, the Pacers pivot is already at 10 points at 100% in four minutes to give the advantage to his formation (18-14). Myles Turner insists, and the Pacers make a mini-break with a buzzer-beater from Cody Martin (29-25).
Clumsy (2 out of 11 on shots), Tidjane Salaün compensates with a lot of activity on the rebound, but Charles Lee quickly calls him back to the bench.
It's Brandon Miller, almost untenable, who takes charge of the match, and the Hornets take the lead (38-36). Grant Williams and Seth Curry take over, and the Hornets score a 13-0 to escape (46-36). At the break, Charlotte is +12, and the Miller-Williams-Curry trio scored 5 of 5 from 3-point range in the 2nd quarter.
Returning from the locker room, Charles Lee sends his “second unit” to challenge the Pacers’ five guys. Salaün continued his impressive rebound haul (6 in the 3rd quarter), but he had to wait seven minutes to score his first basket. At 3 points, the Frenchman gives his team a 15-point lead (75-60). The Pacers recall their starters to the bench, and it is TJ McConnell, supported by Bennedict Mathurin, who puts Indiana back on the right path (79-72).
The hero is named Ben Sheppard
At their side, Ben Sheppard is unleashed and he finds a partner in James Wiseman to bring Indiana back to five units (85-80). The match is becoming more and more disjointed, and the players at the end of the bench are trying to show off.
On the Charlotte side, it was Charlie Brown Jr who took things in hand to give a 12-point lead five minutes from the end (100-88). The Hornets think they have done the hardest part, but Enrique Freeman and Sheppard are hanging on. With 21 seconds remaining, Nick Smith Jr. gave Charlotte a six-point lead (106-100). Sufficient ? Absolutely not!
Tidjane Salaün loses a ball with 10 seconds to go, and Sheppard (11 points in the 4th quarter) turns into a hero with a 4-point basket three seconds from the end. The Pacers equalize (106-106), overtime!
The Hornets are stunned, and it is Enrique Freeman, author of 9 points in overtime, who leads the Pacers to victory (121-116).
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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.
