The Indiana Pacers notch win #36 on the season, despite a late surge from the Utah Jazz
The Good: Six players scored in double figures tonight, including PG, CJ, Teague, Monta, Big Al and Myles. That means Paul got some help on the offensive end, which makes sleeping tonight a lot easier for Pacers fans. Also, the Pacers turned the ball over a mere 7 times.
The Bad: The Indiana Pacers were up 11 going into the final 3 minutes, but let the Jazz cut the lead to 3. Thankfully, Indiana mustered up some defensive stops and closed the game out with key baskets in the closing minutes. Also, letting Gordon Hayward go off for 38 points in his hometown was less than ideal. The Pacers must have just felt like being nice to all the Butler fans in the crowd.
MVP: Jeff Teague. He squared up against fellow Indy native and the very guy he replaced (George Hill), and was able to lead the Pacers to a major win as he controlled the game from the tip. He led Indiana in points tonight with 21.
LVP: GR3. His minutes are dwindling as of late, and he only hit one shot tonight. Albeit, that shot was a buzzer beating 32-footer to send Indiana into the half.
X-Factor: PG13’s late game heroics sealed the game as he hit a 3 to end Utah’s 8-0 run. He then hit a big-time pull-up jumper to stretch the lead to 5 and send Banker’s Life into a frenzy.