Three takeaways as the Indiana Pacers fall in Miami for 10th straight road loss
Another day, another slow start for the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers have the worst net rating in first quarters this season (-15.8 entering Wednesday), and it has cost them several games this year. In Miami on Wednesday night, a slow start hit the blue and gold hard.
After tying the game up at 9-9 early in the first quarter, the Heat ran through the Pacers and quickly had a 29-13 lead. As Indiana has had to do often this year, they had to climb out of a big hole.
"I think we're engaged and we knew what we had to do. We just didn't execute it early," Pacers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce said on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast of the game.
Ironically, the Pacers did recover from their atrocious opening. They defended well in the second quarter and took a lead into halftime. But their slow start caught up to them again in the third quarter as the Heat went on another big run — this time 22-8 — to close the frame. They carried a six-point lead into the fourth quarter and never looked back, winning 116-111.
The Pacers fell to 25-31 with the loss, which puts them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. They have not won a road game since December 23, 2022. The blue and gold are in a rut.
"First and third quarter got us. Put us behind it," Pacers head coach Rick Carlise said after the game. "We've got to be more consistent, obviously. From start to finish."
The Pacers have now lost 13 of their last 15 games. They need a jolt in the worst way, but Miami put together a great game plan to slow some of Indiana's best players. That headlines the takeaways from the outing.
The Heat slowed down Tyrese Haliburton
Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has scored fewer than 12 points in a game just seven times this season. Two of those seven games have come against Miami, and Haliburton finished with just 11 points on Wednesday.
"They paid a lot of attention to him. They did some double teaming," Carisle said of the Heat's defense on the All-Star. He credited Jimmy Butler's defensive effort specifically. "Paying the guy ultimate respect, putting their best defender on him."
Carlisle noted that the team has to find a strong, balanced attack on nights that Haliburton is pressured. The Pacers are now 3-11 when the point guard scores 15 or fewer points. The Heat shrank the floor, and it slowed the blue and gold down big time.
Bennedict Mathurin didn't play much
Rookie guard Bennedict Mathurin, who has been terrific for the Pacers in his first season, had played 20+ minutes in all but one Pacers game this season. In the one game that the sixth overall pick finished with under 20 minutes, Mathurin played for 19:34. In general, he has gotten plenty of playing time.
Tonight, though, he played for just 13:26, by far the fewest he has played in a single game this season. "Coaches decision. Other guys were going good. So, that's it," Carlisle said of the reasoning after the game. The head coach praised the play of Buddy Hield (29 points) and Chris Duate (four points) during his media availability.
Mathurin missed both of his shot attempts and had some miscues on defense. But for a Pacers team in year one of a new era, the thought is that Mathurin will play much more than 13 minutes most nights. His playing time is something to monitor going forward. He should be out there more.
Myles Turner is in a groove
Myles Turner finished the game with a double double — he had 21 points and 10 rebounds — and it took him less than 30 minutes of playing time to do it.
Turner now has a double double in four straight games. He is averaging 20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game since signing a contract extension last week. His play has been excellent of late, and he is proving to be worth every penny.
Turner added two blocks to his stat line. He's been incredibly important to the Pacers this season, and tonight was no different.
The Pacers will look to get back on track on Friday when they host the Phoenix Suns.
- Why a contract extension made sense for the Indiana Pacers and Myles Turner. CLICK HERE.
- Daniel Theis debuted for the Indiana Pacers and showed how he can help the team. CLICK HERE.
- Kings All-Star Domantas Sabonis soaks in his return to Indiana: 'Everything was great. The vibes were great.' CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard were named to the NBA Rising Stars team. CLICK HERE.
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