Post-Game Grades: Pacers rudely dismiss the Lakers to end 2 game slide
By William Furr
Despite an ugly first quarter, the Pacers ended their 2 game slide behind the continued resurgence of Myles Turner.
The game started off ugly, with the Los Angeles Lakers leading by as much as 12 in the first question. While the Lakers were hitting everything they threw at the rim, the Pacers were very much in danger of dropping a 3rd straight game. Facing increasingly tough playoff jockeying, the Pacers proceeded to outscore the Lakers by 20 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters on their way to a deceptively comfortable win, and lowered their magic number for the playoffs to just 3 games. The Pacers can finish no worse than .500 this season.
110. 100. Final. 100. 20
Facing off with a Lakers squad that had an identical record since All-Star break, the Pacers came out starting in the 2nd quarter and looked every bit the part of a playoff team beating up on a lottery-bound squad.
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In yet another big comeback win, the bigs found the rim and their wings found their jumper on the way to the Pacers running the Lakers out of the soon to be renamed Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Good: Balance. The Pacers had 5 players score 15 or more points: Myles Turner with 21, Victor Oladipo with 20, Thad Young with 18, Lance Stephenson with 16, and Darren Collison with 15.
The Bad: That first quarter though. The Pacers looked great in the 2nd/3rd/4th quarters, but the Lakers beat up on them in the first.
MVP: Myles Turner. 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Can we stop talking about trading him now?
LVP: Bojan. 6 points on 2-9 shooting, and was the only starter with a negative +/- for the night.
X-Factor: Darren Collison. Made his return to the starting lineup with a solid 15 points and 8 assists.
DARREN COLLISON. A-. 15 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, shot 50% from the floor. It’s no coincidence that the offense – and Victor Oladipo – looked better now that he’s in the lineup again.. PG. Indiana Pacers
Dipo had a nice night with 20 points, and added in 3 steals to keep his consecutive games with a steal streak alive. His inability to split or pass out of double teams grows more concerning by the day.. SG. Indiana Pacers. VICTOR OLADIPO. B+
Indiana Pacers. BOJAN BOGDANOVIC. D. 6 points on 2-9 shooting, 0-5 from deep. The Pacers need him to snap out of this before the playoffs.. SF
A. 18 and 9 with 4 assists and 2 blocks. Young is playing his best ball of the season headed towards the playoffs.. PF. Indiana Pacers. THADDEUS YOUNG
A+. Coming back from his sprained ankle, Turner was listed as a game time decision. Turns out, Myles Turner was the best player on the court tonight. ‘Nuff said.. C. Indiana Pacers. MYLES TURNER
A. Good Lance was in full effect tonight. 16 points, hit a pair of 3’s, had 5 rebounds, and maybe most importantly: 1 turnover.. SG. Indiana Pacers. LANCE STEPHENSON
B. 8 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds. A true CoJo game. He does a lot that won’t show in the box score, and the DC/CoJo/Dipo triumvirate has been lethal. PG. Indiana Pacers. CORY JOSEPH
C+. 4 points and 2 blocks in 7 minutes. Not quite the throwback 20 point Big Al game, but he didn’t sink the ship. C. Indiana Pacers. AL JEFFERSON
B. 2 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Didn’t look pretty out there (missed an unnecessarily wild open layup), but he does the dirty work. I was very meh on the signing, but he makes the Pacers better.. F. Indiana Pacers. TREVOR BOOKER
Next: No, the Pacers shouldn't sign Isaiah Thomas
The Pacers face off against the New Orleans Pelicans next, in a rain delay makeup (yes, apparently those can happen in basketball). Tip off is at 8 PM on Wednesday, 3/21.