Balance will be key for Indiana Pacers in upcoming stretch without star
The Indiana Pacers beat the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night in their first full game since Tyrese Haliburton's hamstring injury. Any win without Haliburton is a successful night for the Pacers, but the manner in which they got across the finish line is something they hope to replicate going forward.
Indiana started slow, both on the scoreboard and in pace. In the first quarter, they looked sluggish and tossed away five turnovers, and that culminated with 23 total points, a low mark for the Pacers. They had six assists, and no perimeter player hit more than one shot in the frame. It was ugly.
But as time progressed and the team ironed out their newly-needed balanced style, they started to look better. They scored 31 points in the second quarter, including 16 in the final four minutes of the frame. In the third period, they put 35 on the scoreboard. It wasn't always pretty, and Indiana got stuck in the mud late, but they figured out how to gain enough advantages to get a victory.
"A little different without [Haliburton] being out there. So we're just trying to get used to everyone," guard Bruce Brown, who finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, said after the game. "It's going to be like that for a minute. But it just took a few quarters and we figured it out."
The key for the blue and gold offensively was that there was no standout player. No Pacer reached 20 points in the win — Myles Turner led the way with 18. Instead, it was Indiana's balance that got them going. Seven players finished with between 10 and 18 points, and Jordan Nwora had nine. It was nearly eight guys.
Prior to Wednesday night, the Pacers were 0-3 when they didn't have a 20 point scorer. In two of those games, Haliburton was out. They've seen this formula before.
In the prior three balanced games, though, the Pacers gave up at least 127 points. This time, they held Washington to 104. The Wizards offense isn't good, but that's the smallest number Indiana has conceded all season. Their balance spilled over to the defensive end, too. Guys were contributing everywhere.
"We've got to play a balanced game. We've got to play with and for each other," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after the duel.
In the prior three Haliburton-less outings, the Pacers had 25, 24, and 26 assists in total. Wednesday night, they had 31. Part of their balance being more effective this time around came from the team passing the ball effectively and creating opportunities. That helped them survive a crummy shooting night from long range.
Turner and Brown scored well, as did Bennedict Mathurin. The second-year guard had 16 points, including eight from the foul line.
"It was a balanced night... that's how it's supposed to be," Turner said after the game. His leadership is going to be even more important with Haliburton sidelined. "We have to do it by committee. That's how we got here... we'll have to continue to do the same thing on the road."
In the second period yesterday, 10 of Indiana's 11 made shots were assisted. In the third frame, that ratio was 10 of 13. The blue and gold were getting into the paint more often and forcing the Wizards' defense into rotation, which made passing — and scoring — easier.
Obi Toppin finished with 15 points. T.J. McConnell had 14 with a team-high eight assists. Isaiah Jackson (12) and Aaron Nesmith (10) weren't far behind.
That's what Indiana will need going forward. If they are going to succeed on their upcoming difficult road trip, their balance will need to shine every night. It isn't just one player that needs to step up with Haliburton sidelined. It's all of them.
"We quite literally can't replace him, his production, and what he does," McConnell said of Haliburton. "It's gotta be a team effort each night moving the ball, just creating a problem, and getting downhill."
Carlisle said that his team will continue to go 10-deep with their rotation going forward. That will give the entire group as much energy as possible when they are on the court — only Myles Turner reached 30 minutes played against Washington. They all need to use that energy to play the right way and maintain a balanced style until Haliburton is back on the hardwood.
"That's how we've been all year," Carlisle said. He's spot on, his team has eight players averaging over 10 points per game this season. But they've all had the benefit of doing it with Haliburton on the court setting them up. With the All-Star guard banged up, it will take a balanced effort for the Pacers to reach those scoring numbers and grab wins. On Wednesday, they showed how they can do it.
- Sources: Tyrese Haliburton will be re-evaluated after Indiana Pacers road trip with Grade 1 hamstring strain. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers 50-assist night shows how connected the current team is. CLICK HERE.
- James Johnson's contract with the Indiana Pacers is guaranteed for the rest of the 2023-24 season. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers survive versus Boston Celtics even after Tyrese Haliburton injury. CLICK HERE.
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