Indiana Pacers (7-0) 96 Brooklyn Nets (2-4) 91
Mark down another win for the Indiana Pacers as they played what felt like a playoff game tonight in Brooklyn. Both teams looked to really want this one, and both teams were coming off playing last night, so hard to lean one way or the other on the back to back. But just like every win this season, it felts like you can add some circumstance to this game. For the Pacers, this was the fourth game in five nights. It was on the road. It was against a team that some people had looking better than the Pacers. It was one of those games where even when the Pacers were up ten, I wasn’t too comfortable. But the Blue and Gold find that way to hold the lead throughout the fourth quarter, and put away the Nets with some free throws at the end.
So hard to nail down the individual performances that gave the Pacers their seventh win, and best start in franchise history. You do have the usual suspects in David West and Paul George. West goes for 18 points including the late free throws. I’ve talked about the slow start, so these last games have shown that West should be fine, and getting 18 points is just enough for him.
Paul George is his usual self. Defending all around. Going off on the offensive end to give the Pacers that basket they need. How about 24 points and 6 rebounds for Mr. George?
Roy Hibbert gets a double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. He ONLY got 2 blocks. How’s that for how well Hibbert is defending when I can say only 2 blocks? I thought for one of the few times, he actually outplayed the counter part in Brook Lopez. Lopez had seemed to get the better of Hibbert in previous meetings, so it was great to see Hibbert a bit more aggressive, and really looking to get the better this time around. That was the matchup I most wanted to see how it would pan out. The two guys that was to be top center and really showcase that old school center mentality.
Even Lance Stephenson seemed to have a quiet night with his 15 points. If that’s a quiet night, I am fine with it. Overall, you have to love how well this team just played out there. It wasn’t a pretty affair, but that’s how the Pacers win games. They hold the Nets to under 100 points, which I think is impressive as I thought that the Nets would crack that mark. Another strong second half for the Pacers as they put up 28 points in that third quarter to give themselves some breathing room. They got the lead up to ten points, so you would like to see the Pacers finish off the Nets by that amount. But this Nets team does have some offensive weapons, hence why they were able to make that run. But 7-0 is where the Pacers are at, and now they can head back to Indy to continue this impressive start to the season.