Victor Wembanyama clenched his fists and beat his chest before haranguing the crowd. Author of a big dunk in the middle of the second quarter, “Wemby” woke up his team, initially too discreet against the vengeful Pacers.
The Texans, listless in defense, then followed up with brilliant actions to return to contact with Indianapolis thanks to two free throws from the French inside of the Spurs (39-39), at the start of the second quarter. This renewed form was, in the end, only a sham for the Spurs, who were unable to string together a second victory in a row against the Pacers in Paris (136-98 defeat).
Little involved in the collective effort, the Spurs have long suffered from the aggressiveness and harshness of the Pacers. Rick Carlisle’s instructions – calling on his players to “play better basketball” in a sequence of two meetings “comparable to the playoffs” – then seemed to have been heard.
The Indianapolis collective, in the wake of Bennedict Mathurin (11 points including 3/5 3-pointers), posed many problems for the Texans, too dependent on Victor Wembanyama.
The Tyrese Haliburton Show
Relayed 17 points behind the Pacers at the start of the 3rd quarter (50-67), the Spurs started with their feet on the floor, with a particularly sharp Stephon Castle. Then, “Wemby” gave his team the advantage for the first time in the match (77-76), before the Pacers shooters took the game into their own hands. Discreet on Thursday, Tyrese Haliburton scored 14 points in the last three minutes of the period. Enough to allow the Pacers to regain a comfortable lead before the last twelve minutes of the match (+12, 86-98).
Unable to catch up, the Spurs were unable to make the pass of two in the “City of Lights” in an Accor Arena, where a few “Let's go Pacers” even fell from the stands. Entering the game in “garbage time”, Sidy Cissoko was forced to return to the locker room after a nasty mistake by Jarace Walker.
Out of action almost the entire match, the Spurs completely gave up at the end of the match and conceded, in the process, their heaviest defeat of the season, after the -28 against Memphis (112-140), on January 17. Mitch Johnson's men will have a few days to breathe, before welcoming Nicolas Batum's Clippers to the Frost Bank Center on Thursday evening, while the Pacers will host the Pistons on Wednesday evening.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
— A Victor Wembanyama on alternating current. Author of a complicated first quarter, “Wemby” chained counters and big shots – including a logo shot with the board – in the second quarter. The Frenchman, who however finished with a “double-double” (20 points on 7/16 shots, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block), however did not succeed in relaunching his team when the 3-points opponents were raining.
— Skillful Pacers behind the arc. It is surely in this sector that Indiana won this second meeting in Paris. With a hot Tyrese Haliburton (28 points, including 6/9 on winning shots), Indianapolis finished the match with a sickening 17/39 at 3-points.
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.
