When two of the season's most exciting franchises face off, it's bound to be worth a watch. In this case, this poster between the Thunder and the Pacers kept its promises and it was ultimately the last named who, away from home, left with the victory (121-111).
Despite the inevitable Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists), however clumsier than usual like his entire team, Indiana was able to count on Myles Turner (24 points, 4 blocks), Tyrese Haliburton (18 points, 12 assists) or Pascal Siakam (18 points, 11 rebounds) to claim the scalp ofOklahoma City, leader in the West (now joined by Denver). Without panicking, even when OKC came back strong after the break.
Enough to continue to consider a place in the Top 4 for these Pacers, still 6th in the East with a game and a half behind the Knicks, but above all a game and a half ahead of the Sixers, 7th.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Indiana imposes on the leader. This is what we can call a benchmark victory for the Pacers, who fell far from their bases as the best team in the Western Conference, by generally mastering this part. Supported by a most effective collective, Rick Carlisle's troop not only allowed itself to break the Thunder's barrier, by insisting in the paint and punishing on the counter-attack, but it also managed to limit at the same time time the OKC attack (43% on the shoot). A successful performance on both sides, for a success that boosts morale.
– Ignition delay for OKC. Before waking up suddenly in the third quarter (41-36), the Thunder first found themselves struggling offensively during a half (17 points after twelve minutes, 46 points and -12 at the break) . The Pacers' defense obviously played a role in that, but Mark Daigneault's men also had a tendency to miss opportunities that they are used to succeeding in. Certainly dominant on the rebound, to obtain more ammunition, the Oklahoma City players therefore did not make good use of it and they see their series of victories (three) coming to an end.
– The Thunder caught up. This defeat of the Thunder allows the Nuggets to return to their height in the standings with the same record 45 victories for 20 defeats! Minnesota, winner at the Clippers, is just behind with one more defeat. As for the Clippers, they let go with three more losses than the Nuggets and the Thunder.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
