Post-Game Grades: Indiana Pacers Win Fifth Straight by Defeating Brooklyn Nets
By Josh Padmore
106. 100. Final. 97. 147
The Indiana Pacers have now won five straight after defeating the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
The Good: The Indiana Pacers got the win, which is all that matters. It’s also good that every starter had a positive plus-minus tonight. Indiana’s bench production is what got Brooklyn Nets back into the game. Every bench player had a negative plus-minus. The Pacers have now won three straight road games, which has been their Achilles heel all season long.
The Bad: The Pacers had this one in the bag, but they let the Nets get back into it. Indiana legitimately could have walked out with a loss. It’s also not good that Thaddeus Young went down with a wrist injury to his shooting hand.
MVP: Jeff Teague controlled the game from the start. Paul George closed the game for the Pacers, but Teague was the best player. He scored 24 points and dished out 7 assists.
LVP: Glenn Robinson III was coming off some big games, but he went scoreless tonight. Maybe he’s just saving up some energy for the Dunk Contest.
X-Factor: Monta Ellis closed the game for the Pacers and made some big plays on both ends. It was a tough situation for him to be in, considering how he lost his starting job and has struggled, but he took the challenge and embraced it.
A-. Only shot 9-22 from the field, but was there when the Pacers needed him down the stretch. PG double-doubled with 24 points and 11 rebounds.. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. PAUL GEORGE
A. Drove the car for the Pacers tonight. Scored 24 points and handed out 7 assists. Also continued his improvement from deep, knocking down 2-2 from three.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. JEFF TEAGUE
MYLES TURNER. B-. Was pretty quiet tonight, and due to foul trouble, couldn’t close the game. He scored 11 points on 4-8 shooting and grabbed 4 rebounds.. Center. Indiana Pacers
Played very well, but left the game in the 4th quarter with a left wrist injury. In 21 minutes, Thad had 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals.. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. THADDEUS YOUNG. B
C+. His only made field goals were from deep, but that’s what he’s primarily asked to do. Scored 9 points in 30 minutes.. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. C.J. MILES
C+. Played extended minutes tonight and closed the game. Made some big plays down the stretch. Also, took off his mask in the first half and seemed a lot more comfortable without it, understandably so. Scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.. Shooting Guard. Indiana Pacers. MONTA ELLIS
AL JEFFERSON. B-. Filled it up in limited minutes, per usual. He only shot 4-9 from the field, but scored 11 points in 15 minutes.. Center. Indiana Pacers
C. Played the backup four again. Wasn’t as good as he’s been over the last three games, but had 3 points and 3 rebounds in 22 minutes.. Power Forward. Indiana Pacers. LAVOY ALLEN
C-. Coming off some great performances, but III was a ghost tonight. He went scoreless in 14 minutes, but did grab 4 rebounds.. Small Forward. Indiana Pacers. GLENN ROBINSON III
C. With Rodney Stuckey out, Brooks re-entered the rotation. He had 5 points, 3 assists and 2 turnovers in 13 minutes.. Point Guard. Indiana Pacers. AARON BROOKS