After taking 41 against the Celtics, the Hornets lost 25 points against the Pacers (122-97), and this time it was in front of their audience.
There was no photo between an Indiana team applied in attack and concentrated in defense, and a formation of Charlotte still on vacation. With a Tyrese Haliburton passer and a Jalen Smith close to double-double, the Pacers dominated in aggressiveness and altruism with an almost perfect first half: 16 assists out of 19 baskets, 20 out of 20 in free throws and a 23-point lead (66-43).
In the second half, the Pacers were content to manage this lead with a hot shot from Aaron Nesmith at the end of the 3rd quarter, and the intimidation of Isaiah Jackson on the other side of the field. The rookie Bennedict Mathurin confirms his qualities as an attacker with 15 points.
On the Hornets side, the bench is very weak, and as the incumbents are clumsy (11 out of 35 on shots for LaMelo Ball, Kelly Oubre Jr and Mason Plumlee), the defeat very quickly took shape.
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