Pacers beat the Hornets 84-77
Day 2 of the tournament brought another win for Indiana, this time with the help of first-round pick T.J. Leaf. The Pacers led for the vast majority of the second half against the shorthanded Hornets, who were without their first-round pick Malik Monk.
Leaf had 12 points and five rebounds in his debut, going scoreless until halfway into the second quarter. He struggled on the defensive end, but he had a difficult assignment, often matching up with the 300 pound Przemek Karnowski from Gonzaga.
Travis Leslie kept up his impressive performance with another 20-point game. Don’t be shocked if he gets a shot in the big leagues thanks to this showing.
Joe Young had another good game with 14 points and seven assists. Moreover, he and Jarnell Stokes began to develop a nice pick-and-roll chemistry, adding a new dimension to the offense.
The Pacers won this game with their offensive efficiency. The team shot 50.8 percent from the fields and 38.9 percent from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Charlotte only managed 41.2 percent from the field and 20 percent from long range.
The Pacers were undefeated after two games, and their winning streak would continue in day 3 against the Miami Heat