The Indiana Pacers head to Brooklyn on Wednesday night riding high after one of their most impressive victories of a challenging season. The Pacers snapped a four-game losing streak by holding off the New York Knicks with a 137-134 overtime victory on Tuesday night, setting up an intriguing matchup against the struggling Brooklyn Nets.
Siakam and Nembhard Lead Pacers to Dramatic Win
Pascal Siakam scored 30 points and Andrew Nembhard had 24 points and 10 assists in the thrilling overtime victory at Madison Square Garden. The game was a back-and-forth affair that featured 39 lead changes, the most in the NBA this season.
The Pacers scored the first nine points of overtime and overcame a furious Knicks run over the final 24.3 seconds, during which they scored eight points in 20 seconds. The balanced attack proved crucial, as Indiana had eight players that scored in double figures and the Pacers' bench outscored New York's 43-18.
Road Warriors Find Rare Away Victory
The win was particularly significant given Indiana's struggles on the road this season. Indiana came in tied for the league's fewest road wins (three) and with the worst road win percentage in the Eastern Conference at .120. The Pacers were able to come to Madison Square Garden and win for the first time since taking two of their three head-to-head games against the Knicks in last year's Eastern Conference Finals.
The victory came despite Indiana playing without center Ivica Zubac, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury. The game went to overtime after Karl-Anthony Towns' two clutch free throws with 0.2 seconds left in regulation forced overtime after he was fouled by Aaron Nesmith.
Pacers Face Nets in Second Meeting of Season
The Indiana Pacers (14-40, 15th in the Eastern Conference) face the Brooklyn Nets (15-37, 13th in the Eastern Conference) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EST. Both teams are struggling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, making this a crucial game for both franchises.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Nov. 6 the Nets won 112-103 led by 32 points from Michael Porter Jr., while Pascal Siakam scored 23 points for the Pacers.
Key Matchup Statistics
The statistical matchup favors Brooklyn in some areas. The Nets average 107.6 points per game, 11.2 fewer points than the 118.8 the Pacers give up. However, the Pacers average 12.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 more makes per game than the Nets give up.
The Nets are 11-21 in conference play and Brooklyn is 10-25 in games decided by at least 10 points. Meanwhile, the Pacers are 10-26 in conference games and Indiana has a 4-23 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
Injury Report Impacts Both Teams
Both teams will be dealing with significant injury issues. For the Nets: Noah Clowney is day to day (ankle), Nic Claxton is day to day (hip), and Michael Porter Jr. is out (knee). The absence of Porter, who dominated in the first meeting, could be significant for Brooklyn.
For the Pacers: Obi Toppin is out (foot), Johnny Furphy is out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac is out (ankle), Jarace Walker is day to day (illness), and Tyrese Haliburton is out for season (achilles). The loss of Haliburton for the season has been devastating for Indiana's playoff hopes.
Momentum Shift for Indiana
The Pacers will look to build on the momentum from their dramatic victory over the Knicks. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, "This was a really important game for us. The season that we've had, this environment, the opponent -- our guys had a great collective spirit and collective will tonight".
With both teams struggling this season, Wednesday's game represents an opportunity for the Pacers to string together consecutive wins for the first time in weeks. For Brooklyn, it's a chance to defend home court against a team they've already beaten once this season. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. EST at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Sources & Original Reporting
