Post-Game Grades: Pacers turn over game to East-worst Hawks

The Pacers were down by as much as 23-points before mounting an ultimately futile comeback against the Hawks

After Monday’s shallow loss to the Mavericks, the Indiana Pacers ought to have come out ready to prove themselves against the not-trying-to-win Atlanta Hawks – 15th in the East and in the midst of a four-game L streak. But that did not happen.

Two-game losing streaks shouldn’t strike panic in the hearts of fans, but this one feels a bit different. The Pacers looked lifeless early, but managed to keep things close despite 10 first-half turnovers in Thaddeus Young’s 800th career NBA game. Friday night’s Feel Good Pacers were long in the rear-view.

The Pacers went into the half down 55-50, a deficit that would’ve felt a whole lot more cavernous against a better opponent. Surely the second-half would be more agreeable to Pacers fans.

Eh. But it wasn’t. Cory Joseph momentarily became the league’s worst passer for a minute, and the Pacers turned the ball over THREE times in just over a minute of action to begin the second-half. The turnovers continued to balloon, and the Hawks were more than happy to get their lead as high as 23 points.

The game felt over, but the Pacers – always proponents of the comeback – made their push, largely on the back of some timely Bojan three-pointers. The Pacers went on a classically Fool’s Gold Swagger-ish run. Indiana was able to get the lead down to just two points off a Sabonis putback, but an inability to stop Dennis Schroder combined with a tear-out-Bojan’s-remaining-hairs Bojan turnover turned tonight’s potential comeback into the world’s Pacers fans collectively sighing, Really??

Tonight’s 24 turnovers were easily a season-high for Indiana.

The Good: The Good? Bojan shot a Brick Squad-worthy 10-for-17 on his way to 26 points, but sealed the L with a bonehead off-the-foot turnover – just one of his FOUR. Domas had 12 rebounds, but turned the ball over FIVE times himself. There ain’t much of a silver-lining to this loss. According to the box score, Vic did have six steals of his own, keeping his steal-streak alive at 44 games, but this was in the midst of a 9-for-25 shooting night. So, ya know.

The Bad: 

Other than that? THE TURNOVERS! TWENTY-FREAKIN’-FOUR OF ‘EM! That’s pretty bad!!

Also, Vic shot 1-for-9 from deep. Also very bad!

MVP: 

https://twitter.com/FSIndiana/status/969012390158262272

LVP: Who gets the LVP? Well, Domas and Lance each had FIVE turnovers. Bojan had four. CoJo and Vic each had three. CoJo also was 0-for-5 tonight from the field, scored zero points, had four fouls, and still, somehow, was one of the few Pacers to finish with a positive plus-minus: +5. Because I fail to understand +/-, if just for tonight, I’ll give CoJo the LVP.

Get better soon, DC.

X-Factor: 

Lance was a major part of keeping the Pacers in this one, finishing with a team-high plus-minus of +11 despite this five turnovers.

Next: Report: Pacers to sign Trevor Booker

The Pacers will get a day off before heading up to Milwaukee to take on the underachieving Bucks. Tip-off is 8:00 p.m. ET.