Tuesday, March 12 at 8 p.m. ET at the Paycom Center
Halftime Rewind
In a matchup between two of the league’s top three teams, the Indiana Pacers relied on strong defense to build a double-digit lead.
The Pacers (36-29) held the Oklahoma City Thunder (45-19) to a season-low 17 points in the first quarter and led OKC 58-46 at intermission at the Paycom Center.
The Thunder are shooting just 35.6 percent from the field compared to Indiana’s 52.2 percent and the visitors have a 36-16 point differential in the paint.
Center Myles Turner leads the Pacers with 15 points, four assists and two blocks, Pascal Siakam has 10 points and six rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton recorded seven points and six assists at the break. Nine players have recorded a record so far for the Pacers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages over 31 points per game, leads the Thunder with 11 points and is his team’s only double-digit scorer.
OKC plays tonight without starting forward Jalen Williams, who is averaging 19.0 points per game, due to a sprained ankle. In his place, Indiana native and Butler University legend Gordon Hayward was inserted into the starting five for OKC.
The Pacers held OKC to its fewest points scored in a first quarter this season – which also matches their fewest points scored in a quarter this season – while the Blue & Gold led 22-17 at the end of the first quarter. Through the first 12 minutes, the Thunder shot just 26.9 percent from the field.
Indiana made its first five shots after the point, with Turner connecting on a trio of baskets for seven points, while OKC started 1 of 6 from the field, as the Pacers led 11-2 three minutes into the game .
The Thunder responded with 3-pointers from Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort to make it a five-point game, but both teams scored seven points in the final 4:57 as the Pacers held on to five points.
Pascal Siakam scored seven of the Pacers’ first 10 points of the second quarter, capped by an and-one, to help the visitors take a 30-20 lead before two baskets from TJ McConnell and a 3-pointer from Jarace Walker put the Blue & Gold ahead 37-27 with 8:04 left in the first half.
The Thunder got within seven points twice before the break, but in the final 3:24 of the half, the Pacers got closer on a 14-8 run, which included 3-pointers of Andrew Nembhard and Haliburton, to stay ahead by double. numbers.
OKC is winning the rebounding battle 25-24 so far, but has turned the ball over seven times against the Pacers’ four giveaways.
Broadcast information (TV and Radio Programs >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to kick off a three-game homestand against DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. ET. Find tickets >>
