March Madness indeed. Pacers chaos continues with scuffle, ejections, another OT win
INDIANAPOLIS -- Bennedict Mathurin scored 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Myles Turner had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks including a game-saver to lead the Pacers to a 105-99 overtime win over the Nets on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers won their third straight game, all by six points or fewer with two of those coming in overtime to improve to 40-29 and increase their lead on the Bucks and Pistons for fourth place in the Eastern Conference to 1 1/2 games. The Nets fell to 23-47.
Aaron Nesmith added 14 points for the Pacers. Forward Ziaire Williams and guard D'Angelo Russell led the Nets with 22 points each.
Bennedict Mathurin helped carry the Pacers back
After scoring 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter in Wednesday's comeback win, Mathurin was once again the Pacers' most reliable offensive weapon in Thursday's game.
The third-year wing attacked off the bounce as usual, showed some touch from outside and also made a huge impact on the glass. He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, drawing a three-shot foul with 14.6 seconds to go and hitting all three of those to tie the score and send it to overtime. He had six points in overtime on 2 of 3 shooting with two free throws on three attempts to put the game away. He finished with 28 points on 10 of 17 shooting including 2 of 4 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 at the line.
The Pacers' fatigue was evident
Thursday marked the Pacers' fifth game in seventh days and the second game of their second back-to-back inside of that week. The first three of the five made up a three-game road swing. Each of the first four games were at least somewhat close and the Pacers' wins over the Timberwolves on Monday and Mavericks on Wednesday were wild ones. They beat Minnesota in overtime and the Mavericks thanks to a 12-point swing in the game's final minute.
So the Pacers had reason to be exhausted and it was pretty clear from the beginning they were. They failed to score on their first five possessions and it took them more than six minutes to score their first 10 points of the game. At the end of the first quarter they had 23 points on 7 of 20 shooting and at halftime they were down 52-42, shooting 14 of 38 from the floor and 5 of 18 from 3-point range with 12 turnovers.
Even as the Pacers drew the game closer, there was still obvious evidence they were tired. They made 19 of 39 field goals in the second half but just 3 of 13 3-pointers.
Myles Turner was tough at the rim
Turner sat out Monday night's game with a left hip contusion and he played just 22 minutes in Wednesday's game thanks to some shooting struggles and the Mavericks playing a wing-heavy lineup and having a lot of success driving the ball.
As a result, Turner was one of the few Pacers regulars who entered Thursday's game rested and he turned that into production at the rim and on the glass at both ends. The Nets managed to get the ball to the paint frequently but he was there to deny them and to grab rebounds when they missed
Turner scored 23 points on 8 of 11 shooting including 2 of 5 from 3-point range. He grabbed 10 rebounds, eight on the defensive end and blocked five shots including a huge one on a Keon Johnson block attempt with 13 seconds to go.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Nets: Indiana rallies for OT win in another chaotic game
Topics
-
Nets drop second straight with 105-99 OT loss to Pacers
Bennedict Mathurin scored six of his 28 points in overtime and the Indiana Pacers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 105-99 on Thursday night.Yahoo Sports - 16h -
Brooklyn's Watford ejected after getting into scuffle with Pacers players
Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Trendon Watford was ejected after scuffling with Indiana Pacers players in the fourth quarter of a 105-99 overtime loss on Thursday night. With 4:48 remaining in ...Yahoo Sports - 15h -
Rudy Gobert, Andrew Nembhard ejected after third quarter scuffle as Pacers snap Timberwolves' winning streak
Gobert was hit with a flagrant 2 for delivering a shoulder to Nembhard's headCBS Sports - 3d -
Benches-clearing scuffle between Nets, Pacers leads to multiple technicals and one ejection
Trendon Watford's action may have resulted in the Nets losing Thursday's game vs. the Pacers.Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Tyrese Haliburton still out but Pascal Siakam returns for Pacers
Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss a second straight game with lower back soreness. Pascal Siakam returns after missing Monday.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
WHAT!?! Watching Pacers requires Pacemaker after more late-game heroics in win over Mavs
The Pacers trailed by seven points with a minute left, but managed to steal a win thanks to some late-game heroics from Andrew Nembhard.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Nets player grades: Ziaire Williams drops 22 in OT loss at Pacers
Here are the Brooklyn Nets player grades following Thursday's 105-99 overtime loss at the Indiana Pacers.Yahoo Sports - 16h -
All-Star guards Thompson, Haliburton to miss Mavs-Pacers game as Anthony Davis progresses
All-Star guards Klay Thompson and Tyrese Haliburton have been ruled out of Wednesday’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers. Thompson will not play because of an illness, another ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Toppin hits wild 3 to lift depleted Pacers in OT
Obi Toppin hit seven 3s for the short-handed Pacers on Monday night, the last one an eventual game-winner with 3.5 seconds left to beat the Timberwolves in OT.ESPN - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in NCAA Tournament first round
It's Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in the first round of March Madness. Follow for scores, NCAA Tournament updates from the game.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Viktor Hovland contending at the Valspar Championship after (another) coaching change
Two weeks ago, Hovland announced a switch back to Grant Waite, insisting he's trying to "get to the bottom" of his slump.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Auburn basketball vs Creighton: Who has edge in 2025 NCAA Tournament second round?
It’s Auburn Tigers vs. Creighton Blue Jays in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Georgia Amoore scores 34 points and Kentucky holds off charge by Liberty for 79-78 March Madness win
Georgia Amoore scored 34 points, including three free throws in the final 10 seconds for fourth-seeded Kentucky, which nearly blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead but held on for a 79-78 victory ...Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Mexican club Leon banned from FIFA Club World Cup
Club Leon from Mexico were incensed Friday after they were banned from the June-July Club World Cup in the United States for violating rules on multi-ownership, FIFA announced Friday. A FIFA ...Yahoo Sports - 29m
More in Sports
-
Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in NCAA Tournament first round
It's Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in the first round of March Madness. Follow for scores, NCAA Tournament updates from the game.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Poch after loss: Wearing U.S. shirt 'not enough'
Mauricio Pochettino was left visibly frustrated after the USMNT's shock 1-0 defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League, bluntly telling his players it was not enough to just simply show up in ...ESPN - 23m -
Skenes' 1-of-1 rookie card fetches record $1.11M
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes' 2024 Topps Chrome Update MLB debut patch autograph card sold for a stunning $1.11 million, including buyer's premium.ESPN - 23m -
Bronny has season-high 17 points in Lakers' loss
Bronny James scored a season-high 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting and added five assists, three rebounds and a block in 30 minutes of playing time against the Bucks.ESPN - 23m -
Wood carded for signing autographs in NZ win
Chris Wood picked up a yellow card for signing autographs and taking pictures with fans during New Zealand's win over Fiji in their World Cup qualifier on Thursday.ESPN - 23m