INDIANAPOLIS — Pascal Siakam led the Indiana Pacers with 22 points, while Tyrese Haliburton contributed 21 points and nine assists, helping the team snap a three-game losing streak by defeating the Washington Wizards 115-103 on Sunday.
For the Wizards, rookie Alexandre Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly each scored 17 points, but the team has now suffered 11 consecutive losses, holding the worst record in the NBA at 2-13. Sarr also recorded a game-high 14 rebounds, showcasing his potential.
The Pacers received additional scoring from Bennedict Mathurin with 16 points, Moses Brown with 15 points, and T.J. McConnell who added 12 points.
Takeaways:
The Wizards might find little consolation in the fact that they remained competitive for a significant part of the game, but the ongoing losing streak remains discouraging. Nonetheless, there are positive aspects that the Wizards can leverage moving forward, especially with six of their next eight games slated to be played at home.
As for the Pacers, after struggling defensively in their previous three games, where they allowed an average of 129.6 points, this game demonstrated a modest improvement. Indiana allowed only 16 points in the fourth quarter, which could instill some confidence. With a 5-3 home record, the Pacers now need to work on improving their performance away from home, where they currently stand at 2-8.
Key Moment:
A pivotal stretch occurred when Indiana embarked on a 7-2 run over the course of about four minutes, establishing a 105-98 advantage with just 4:53 left in the game. During this span, the Wizards missed six shots, failing to narrow the deficit in the closing moments.
Key Stat:
Moses Brown, who was recently signed, made an immediate impact by scoring the first eight points for Indiana and totaling 11 points in the opening quarter. The 25-year-old, who has played for seven other teams in six seasons, continues to seek stability in his career.
Up Next:
The Pacers are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans at home on Monday night, while the Wizards will be hosting the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.