Pacers put together comeback win in OT
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
(Photo by Pacers Sports and Entertainment)
INDIANAPOLIS — For the second time in nine days, the Indiana Pacers (24-22) put together a big comeback win over the Sacramento Kings. They came back from a 22-point deficit in Sacramento last week, and decided to do it again on Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. They trailed by as many as 16 points midway through the third quarter, before eventually winning in Overtime, 115-111.
The Pacers were just 1-7 on the second night of a back-to-back coming into this game, so they’ll take the win in this situation no matter how it happened.
Paul George led the way with 33 points. He’s scored 30 or more points in three straight games. The Pacers are now 13-3 on the season when George scores 24+ points in a game.
“I’m feeling good,” George said. “I’m feeling in rhythm, and starting to form into second half, playoff basketball.”
“He’s been playing the game the right way,” Head Coach Nate McMillan said about George. “He’s been efficient. Tonight he got to the foul line being very aggressive.”
George went 16-for-17 from the foul line, and continues to lead the NBA in free throw percentage. It was a huge performance, especially considering he played the final 16 minutes of the game at a high level after also playing the night before.
“We knew how this team plays,” he said. “We knew we had to match it. I was just trying to counter their physicality, and I took what they gave me.”
The Pacers have continued to dig holes for themselves in games. They allowed 60 points in the first half for the 13th time this season. The Kings made 10 of their first 14 3-point attempts and were getting whatever they wanted on the offensive end until the 4th quarter and Overtime minutes.
“In the 4th quarter, I told the guys that we’ve been here before,” said Nate McMillan. “I told them to stay calm. We kept our composure and slowly chipped away at the lead. We have a somewhat experienced team. We should be able to close games out. Tonight we showed glimpses of that.”
Jeff Teague had another solid night with 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. C.J. Miles was once again in the starting lineup, and he came up big with 18 points on 6-of-9 from behind the arc. For a team that gives up a lot of 3’s, Miles is very valuable to the Pacers to get some of those treys back.
After winning on back-to-back nights, the Pacers will look to keep things going against James Harden and the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
