Hey, a normal game — and another Pacers victory over T-Wolves ensures a winning record
INDIANAPOLIS -- Tyrese Haliburton scored 24 points and dished out 11 assists to lead the Pacers to a 119-113 win over the Timberwolves at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday night.
The Pacers have won five straight games and improved to 42-29, guaranteeing themselves a winning season and maintaining fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Timberwolves fell to 41-32 and find themselves in a virtual tie for seventh in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Forward Obi Toppin added 20 points for the Pacers. Forward Aaron Nesmith had 17 points and forward Pascal Siakam had 14. Guard Bennedict Mathurin added 11 points and point guard T.J. McConnell had 10. Naz Reid led the Timberwolves with 20.
Obi Toppin crushed the Timberwolves from deep again
Toppin had to carry the Pacers in last Monday's game with four starters out and fifth starter Andrew Nembhard and sixth man Bennedict Mathurin out of the game by overtime with technical fouls in Nembhard's case and personal fouls in Mathurin's. Toppin responded with his best game as a pro, scoring 34 points on 12-of-19 shooting including 7-of-10 from 3-point range in a career-high 44 minutes and 31 seconds.
On Monday, the Pacers were at full strength, so the Pacers didn't even need him to start much less play that many minutes, but he was back on the same shooting burner he was on in Minneapolis. Toppin scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting including 6-of-9 from 3-point range making him 13-of-19 from 3 against the Timberwolves this year.
Tyrese Haliburton posts 11th straight double-double
Haliburton noted Saturday night the Pacers don't seem to be able to have normal games, but his performance on Monday made sure they finally got a win in which they cruised.
The Pacers were struggling to hit outside shots early, and he was no exception. But he made up for that by getting into the paint for layups and floaters and he had nine points at the break on 4-of-7 shooting though he missed his only 3-point shot. In the third quarter he finally found his range but didn't stop attacking, scoring 13 points in that period alone on 5-of-7 shooting including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. All along he was working his magic as a passer as per usual and he recorded 11 assists for his 11th straight points-assists double-double. He committed one turnover, but he still has 142 assists to 13 turnovers since the All-Star break.
Aaron Nesmith got it done on both ends
Since the All-Star break and his return from his November ankle injury, Aaron Nesmith has quietly been one of the Pacers' most efficient offensive players, easily fitting in as a floor spacer and ball mover and bringing tough perimeter defense.
Nesmith scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, hitting 3-of-3 3-pointers and also grabbing seven rebounds. He drew the assignment of Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. and held him to just seven points, while guard Andrew Nembhard took on Anthony Edwards and made him inefficient as well.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs. T-Wolves: Tyrese Haliburton, Obi Toppin help Indiana cruise
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