In a thrilling game at Indianapolis, Pascal Siakam poured in eight of his 26 points during the critical final 3 1/2 minutes on Saturday to assist in lifting the Indiana Pacers to a narrow 108-103 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. The performance was bolstered by Myles Turner’s impressive contribution of five 3-pointers, leading up to 22 points. The win marked a successful sweep for Indiana in their home matchups against Brooklyn this week and extended their winning streak to four consecutive games, having won six of their last seven.
Myles Turner, beyond his scoring, effectively commanded the defense, logging eight rebounds and three blocks despite a tense start to the evening with his sister taken off the court on a stretcher during pregame warmups. On the offensive front, the return of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton was a significant boost for the Pacers. Haliburton, who was previously sidelined for three games with a back injury, posted his 10th double-double in a row, tallying 16 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds.
For the Nets, Trendon Watford rose to the occasion, aiming to halt their downturn, by scoring a season-high 26 points. Cam Johnson also chipped in with a solid performance, adding 20 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Despite these efforts, Brooklyn experienced its third consecutive loss and has now dropped 13 of their last 15 games. The game took a dramatic turn in the fourth quarter as the Pacers closed the third on an 11-0 run, securing a 90-70 lead. However, the Nets retaliated with a 13-0 surge at the start of the final quarter.
Close margins defined the rest of the game, with Brooklyn edging within a single point at 92-91 with just 4:30 remaining on the clock. Nevertheless, Siakam’s decisive scoring streak helped the Pacers fend off the Nets to clinch the victory. The Nets have faced a challenging season, notably exacerbated by their pair of losses in Indiana, adding to their struggles. Meanwhile, Indiana maintains a one-game lead over Milwaukee for the fourth seed and remains nine games behind New York for the third spot, eyeing their first home-court advantage in the playoffs since the 2013-14 season, aside from the bubble playoffs in 2019-20.
A pivotal moment came when Brooklyn managed only three field goals in the final 4 1/2 minutes after coming as close as 92-91. The Pacers distinguished themselves with 32 assists on their 40 successful baskets and a commanding 21-8 lead in fast-break points. Looking ahead, the Nets will begin a three-game homestand against Dallas on Monday, while the Pacers prepare to host Minnesota.