Pacers’ trio leads Indiana to 3rd straight win with 121-114 victory over Trail Blazers
Pacers’ trio leads Indiana to 3rd straight win with 121-114 victory over Trail Blazers
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) ties up Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) drives on Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) and Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) react as they collide during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) is fouled as he drives between Indiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy (12) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Enrique Freeman (8) looses the ball as the shoots under Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker (34) is fouled by Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) looses the ball over Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) looses the ball as he drives past Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) ties up Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) ties up Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) drives on Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) drives on Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) and Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) react as they collide during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) and Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) react as they collide during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) is fouled as he drives between Indiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy (12) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) is fouled as he drives between Indiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy (12) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Enrique Freeman (8) looses the ball as the shoots under Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Pacers forward Enrique Freeman (8) looses the ball as the shoots under Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker (34) is fouled by Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker (34) is fouled by Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) looses the ball over Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) looses the ball over Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) looses the ball as he drives past Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) looses the ball as he drives past Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pascal Siakam matched a season high with 29 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 28 and 10 assists and the Indiana Pacers overcame a sluggish first half to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 121-114 on Wednesday night.
Bennedict Mathurin added 24 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana.
The Pacers led by 11 entering the final quarter and fended off a Trail Blazers rally as Haliburton scored 12 points and Siakam nine down the stretch for their third consecutive victory.
The Blazers hit nine 3-pointers in the first half and led by as much as 10 in the second quarter. Mathurin rallied the Pacers with 13 points in the quarter to pull the teams even at 60 at halftime.
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 30 points, including six 3-pointers. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe each had 17.
Both teams are now 1-2 in NBA Cup play.
Takeaways
Blazers: After dictating play and leading for much of the early going, the visitors were unable to recover from shooting lapses in the second half. Portland trimmed an 11-point deficit to two, but started missing again as the Pacers pulled away. The Blazers are 3-8 on the road.
Pacers: Despite sporadic defense in the first half, Indiana finally found its offensive rhythm in the second half as the familiar formula of Siakam, Mathurin and Haliburton took turns making shots. The trio have been consistently clutch as Indiana improved to 7-2 at home.
Key moment
Indiana led by just three when Siakam sank a 3-pointer and hit a 9-foot jumper on back-to-back possessions for a 108-100 lead with 5:07 remaining.
Key stat
Mathurin has scored 20 or more points in eight of the past 13 games.
Up next
The Trail Blazers host Sacramento on Friday, and the Pacers host Detroit the same day.
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