Spirited Comeback lifts Pacers over PG and the Thunder
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Thursday night may have been exactly what the Indiana Pacers needed. The team had been struggling. Paul George was in the building. The schedule from hell was just beginning. Indiana badly needed a win, and they got it in the most Pacer way possible.
After falling behind by 19 points, the Pacers looked dead in the water. But we’ve seen this movie before.
They started the game 4-of-18 from behind the arc, but got hot when they needed it most. Wesley Matthews had a huge 4th-quarter, going toe-to-toe with the former Pacer star Paul George. Matthews made a few 3’s, forced a huge turnover, and then made the game-winning shot with just one second to play.
“We needed a game like this,” said Matthews. “A playoff team. A playoff atmosphere. We had to get it.”
Matthews continued: “This team fights. That’s one of the big reasons why I came here. No lead is too much. Continue to fight. Continue to believe. It’s a great team over there. It’s one we needed.”
Paul George was right in the middle of things, as you’d expect. He had 36 points, six rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers. His three tied the game at 104. He then hit two free-throws to give the Thunder the lead. After Sabonis tied it back up for the Pacers, George had a turnover, steal, and turnover in a matter of seconds. In the end, it was Russell Westbrook that had the chance to win the game, but he missed, giving the Pacers the victory.
“I know how it is being in this arena- how the fans can rally the team,” George said. “I thought that’s what happened tonight. We were the better team for 45 of the 48 minutes. We didn’t put the game away. We allowed them to get some confidence.”
From a personal standpoint, PG is happy that things are behind him and he’s glad things have worked out for both teams:
Without the star power of other playoff teams, the Pacers will continue relying on their depth. All five starters scored in double-figures once again for Indiana, while Domas Sabonis put together a monster night off the bench. Sabonis had 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists, the game-tying basket, and he shot 12-of-13 from the foul line.
“He was huge,” said point guard Darren Collison. “We need a collective effort when we’re going up against teams with multiple all-stars. Everybody had their moment. We’re not going to give in to anybody. This was kind of reminiscent of last year.”
Perhaps the most underrated story-line from this game- the captain being a captain. Thad Young told Coach Nate McMillan to leave Sabonis/Turner in to close the game. You rarely see that in any sport, but Thad Young is a different breed, and perfect for this Pacers team.
“We’re calling it the play of the game,” McMillan said.
“This is what we have to be about, supporting your teammates and encouraging your teammates. When guys have a rhythm, let ’em go and support that.”
The Pacers remain two games ahead of the Boston Celtics for the No.4-seed in the Eastern Conference. They will now face their most difficult stretch of the season: @Denver, @Portland, @LAC, @Golden State, Vs. Denver, @OKC, @Boston. If they can find a way to win even three of these games, they will put themselves in a position to gain home-court in the first round.
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