Indiana Pacers survive ugly game vs Memphis Grizzlies for third-straight win
The Indiana Pacers wrapped up a four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon when they hosted the Memphis Grizzlies. It was the second meeting of the season between the two teams, but each group looks much different now than they did back in December.
This time, there was no Ja Morant, no Desmond Bane, no Tyrese Haliburton, and no Myles Turner. There have been injuries and trades for both sides since they last played. It was going to be a totally different battle than it was last month.
Neither team could create any sort of advantage for the first few minutes of the game. The Grizzlies and Pacers combined to make one of the first 10 threes attempted, so it was a low-scoring start. After 4.5 minutes, Memphis led 11-6.
The action remained a crawl for the next few minutes. The Grizzlies stayed in front thanks to their tough, physical defense, but their offense wasn't doing enough to extend their lead. It was still a five-point game with 3:39 on the clock in the first period.
Bennedict Mathurin set out to change that for the blue and gold. He started to put pressure on the rim and get some rhythm, and that helped his team find a groove on offense. Mathurin scored 12 points in the first quarter and aided Indiana in cutting the lead.
It was 27-23 Memphis after 12 minutes. Mathurin led the Pacers in points while Jaren Jackson Jr was the Grizzlies leader with eight.
The second quarter looked very similar to the first one for the first few minutes. It was a very arrhythmic game. Neither team had any momentum, and shots weren't falling.
Finally, with just over eight minutes to go in the half, Indiana found a groove. They knocked down a few outside shots and got a bunch of stops in a row. It all came together for a 9-0 run for Indiana, which gave them a 35-33 advantage.
The run got as high as 14-0 before Memphis finally ended it. The Pacers hit a stride that was missing for much of the first quarter, and Mathurin had almost half of Indiana's points at the time.
The Grizzlies answered with a run of their own to tie up the game, and the score stayed close down the stretch of the half. Jackson Jr did well to get Memphis back into the game on both ends, and Vince Williams Jr was playing great for the visitors.
That stretch led to momentum for Memphis. They closed the half strong and were able to recapture the lead at 53-51 heading into the break. Williams Jr and Jackson Jr both had 12 points. Mathurin had scored 19 to that point while Pascal Siakam dropped in 10.
The second half began with better play from the hosts. Their offense looked terrific, and they were able to hit three outside shots in a row to get back in the lead early in the third period.
Siakam was an important force for the Pacers early in the second half, both as a scorer and as someone the Grizzlies defense had to respect. He made life simple for his teammates, and Indiana did well to take advantage.
They took a five-point lead with just over four minutes to go in the third quarter, and Jalen Smith went on an important solo-run at the time. He scored five points on his own with a pretty three followed by an important dunk, and that got the crowd into the game. Memphis took a timeout in an attempt to regroup as a team.
The Grizzlies kept things close but weren't able to recapture the lead as the period wound down. Indiana, meanwhile, grabbed some momentum with some highlight plays. Mathurin dunked all over Ziaire Williams, and Obi Toppin followed it up with an and-one layup in transition. Suddenly, the crowd was loud for the first time of the night, and the Pacers were up 11.
Their lead was 10 as the quarter ended at 92-82. Mathurin was up to 24 points at the time, and the blue and gold had six players in double figures.
The fourth quarter opened with another highlight for the Pacers, this time via Isaiah Jackson. It put his team up by a dozen and ensured that Indiana would have momentum to start the quarter. Jackson was having a phenomenal second half to that point.
Memphis went on a run in response. They were able to string together some stops and cut the advantage down to three with about eight minutes to go. Indiana was struggling to get paint pressure at the time.
That scoring margin remained when Jackson Jr committed his fifth foul of the game, which was a big moment. He had 20 points at the time, but the Grizzlies decided to bring him to the bench. It was a big break for the Pacers, who had lost their rhythm.
The Pacers were able to maintain their slim advantage for the next few possessions, and they held a three-point lead during a stoppage with 4:20 left to go in the game. On offense, they were finally out of the mud. But they needed to close the game well to earn a victory.
The next few minutes went back-and-forth, with a ton of angst building in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Memphis tied the game at 107, but Smith answered with a huge three on the very next possession.
Indiana wasn't perfect for the next few plays, but they did just enough to never give up their lead again. They got a key stop with 31 seconds left while up by four, so all the blue and gold had to do to win was avoid turnovers and hit free throws.
They did what they had to do late and got it done. The Pacers held on to win 116-110 for their third win in a row. It wasn't pretty, but it was still a victory.
Mathurin finished with 24 points. Siakam and Smith both had 19. Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard both had 16 points. Everybody contributed.
The Pacers next play on Tuesday when they battle the Celtics in Boston on TNT.
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