First Thoughts: Trail Blazers 106, Pacers 102
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 106-102 on Monday night at the Moda Center:
IN A NUTSHELL: Paul George scored a career-high 43 points on 16-of-30 shooting and made five 3-pointers in the final three minutes while trying to bring Indiana back from an eight-point deficit. But LaMarcus Aldridge (28 points, 10 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (26 points, six boards) combined to score 13 points over a three-minute stretch (from 4:30 to 1:17) that helped Portland hold on to improve to 15-3. The Pacers failed to become the eighth team in NBA history to start a season 17-1. Instead, Indiana is 16-2 despite getting 16 points and 14 rebounds from Roy Hibbert and 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists from David West. George Hill matched a career-high with 11 assists but only scored six points. Lance Stephenson fouled out with two points.
KEY SEQUENCE: The Pacers boasted a seven-point advantage with 3:47 remaining in the third quarter before Portland uncorcked a 25-10 run that was capped by Wesley Matthews’ 3-pointer from the right corner. That gave Portland an 86-78 lead and set the Blazers up for pole position down the stretch. Portland guards scored their first 14 points of the fourth quarter and their ability and willingness to penetrate forced the Indiana defense to make difficult decisions and stay back on its heels.
BEST OF THE REST: Blazers rookie lottery pick C.J. McCollum did not play. … George’s 43 points are the most by a Pacer since Danny Granger scored 44 on March 26, 2010 against Utah. … The Pacers snapped a six-game road winning streak against Western Conference opponents and a seven-game winning streak overall. … Indiana still has yet to play a game decided by three points or less.
WHAT WE LEARNED: The defense accomplished a few biggies in the first half: 1) taking Matthews/Nicolas Batum out of the game, 2) making Lillard a non-playmaker, and 3) preventing 3-point attempts. But by night’s end, Portland had shot 47 percent from the field and made 29 free throws on the way to 106 points. Indiana is not used to getting worked over for those kind of numbers. The Pacers continue this grueling five-game road trip on Wednesday in Utah before at least flying into the Central time zone for a date with the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
