First Thoughts: Pacers 116, Kings 111
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Editor
First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers escaped with a 116-111 overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Sleep Train Arena:
IN A NUTSHELL: Paul George (36 points, five rebounds, four steals) and Lance Stephenson (24 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) led the Pacers, who came on strong in the second half to eventually overpower injury-riddled Sacramento. Indiana tied the game on a miraculous four-point play by George with 15.1 seconds left in regulation, then quickly took control in the extra session with help from David West, who finished with 22 points and six boards for Indiana. Marcus Thornton delivered a season-high 42 points on 16-of-27 shooting for the Kings, while Isaiah Thomas chipped in 38 points and six assists. Sacramento (15-27) was playing without injured stars DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay.
KEY SEQUENCE: The Kings carried a 60-50 lead into halftime after shooting nearly 48 percent from the field over the opening 24 minutes and keeping the pace at a rate they were comfortable with. Sacramento moved the ball consistently and attacked the rim, routinely finding open cutters and shooters. But the headway the Kings made over the first two quarters was quickly erased in the third frame, as the Kings’ offense stagnated and they shot just 8-of-26 (30.8 percent) while allowing the Pacers to score 29 points. Indiana took 15 free throws in the third quarter to just nine for Sacramento and trailed 84-79 entering the final frame. The Pacers were behind by 17 in the second quarter, and when they chop a deficit that quickly, Indiana usually pulls out a victory, even if the heroics of George were needed to get this one.
BEST OF THE REST: Each side had eight offensive rebounds in the first half, but Sacramento had more second-chance points, 13-10. … George picked up his fifth technical foul of the season as the first half expired. He barked at officials for much of the first two quarters, at one point placing his arm on Justin VanDuyne’s shoulder to imitate an action by one of George’s defenders. West and George Hill received technical in the second half. … Indiana swept the season series with the Kings for a second consecutive season.
WHAT WE LEARNED: The Pacers didn’t start the second half of the season with much of an inspired effort, as they played poorly overall and essentially lost the game in regulation before Derrick Williams fouled George coming around a screen. Fortunately for Indiana, George was in the act of shooting and swished it. That had to demoralize the Kings, who had the game won and were unable to win it a second time. Every Pacers starter played at least 37 minutes and expended a ton of energy salvaging this game out of the rubble. The Pacers will have to recover from Friday’s marathon right away, as they’ll head to Denver for a showdown with Brian Shaw and the Nuggets on Saturday night.
