Andrew Nembhard, the rookie who continues to surprise in Indiana

Dominated in the first half, the Pacers completely overthrew the Bucks on their return from the locker room (139-123) with a crazy skill: 33/47 (70%) including 13/19 (68%) at 3-points. A success that allows Indiana to get back into the play-in race.

” We showed good cohesion in the second half ” explain Andrew Nembhard. “ We fought well and showed good aggression. It felt like we had nothing to lose in that moment. It’s a good thing for the team and a big win for us. “.

Andrew Nembhard, the detonator

Tyrese Haliburton absent, the keys to the lead have been entrusted to the rookie. And like his team, the Canadian missed his first half with an ugly 1/7 shot. Except that afterwards, it was he who showed the way by scoring 21 points in the second half!

“ I was just trying to be aggressive in transition, to attack the basket a bit more instead of just shooting from mid-range. » details Andrew Nembhard. ” I stayed aggressive and confident in the second half, and the shots were falling at all levels “.

When he returned from the locker room, he began to draw attention to himself, which greatly disturbed the Bucks’ defense. In the third quarter alone, he scored 10 points at 4/6 shooting. In its wake, Indiana completely caught fire in the third quarter. Rick Carlisle’s men thus planted 49 points in the third act at 19/26 shooting including 8/11 from long distance!

“ When Andrew gets down to business it’s a pleasure to watch » admit Myles Turner. ” We tell him all the time, ‘You have to be more aggressive. You have to be more aggressive’. But he is so focused on the pass. Honestly, I’m not mad about it. I think he’s a team player, but he’s a very special talent. He’s gonna shine in this league for years “.

First Pacers win at Fiserv Forum

In the fourth quarter, he continued his momentum by scoring 11 points at 5/8 shooting, allowing his team to pocket the victory in Milwaukee. He finished with 24 points and 5 assists. This is his second best scoring mark of the season after his 31 points scored on the Golden State floor on December 5th.

” Andrew is a special player » abounds TJ McConnell. ” He proves it every night, no matter what we expect of him. With the ball, or without the ball. I feel like people think he’s more of a fullback, but I feel like he can lead the starting five. Everything we asked of him this year he did and he defended against the best opposing players. He set the tone tonight “.

Indiana also beat Milwaukee for the first time since Feb. 12, 2020, ending a 10-game losing streak against their division rival. It is also the first time the Pacers have won in Milwaukee since March 2, 2018. Since the Fiserv Forum did not open until the start of the following season, the Pacers had never won in this room, bowing to it on their last nine visits.