The Indiana Pacers almost pulled off another improbable win late, but the Houston Rockets were too much to overcome.
For the fourth game in a row, the Indiana Pacers found themselves in a close game at the end of the fourth quarter. Unlike the last few, though, this one did not go the Pacers way.
The Houston Rockets are a very good basketball team, and James Harden is an incredible player. When he is doing things like this, it is impossible to beat him:
alexa, show me something impossible to defend pic.twitter.com/P3rYQKJMlG
— Matt Ellentuck (@mellentuck) November 6, 2018
The Pacers had a chance in the fourth quarter, but ultimately the Rockets were too much:
James Harden is a machine
You know how many times I would feel like the Pacers had James Harden stopped? That they had cut off all of his options and that he was screwed? Then, miraculously, Harden would throw up a perfect lob or can a perfect step back and make it look so effortless.
Harden was the beneficiary of two questionable at best foul calls, but he made all of his free throws and hit 5/12 threes. How do you even guard this guy? The answer is very carefully, and the Pacers weren’t careful enough.
You have to make your free throws
Before this game, the Pacers ranked 27th in the league with a free throw percentage of 70.9. In this game, they made 66.7 percent, missing 10 of their 30 free throws. When you miss 10 from the charity stripe and lose by 4? That’s the game right there.
It is shocking and inexplicable. The Pacers made 77.9 percent of their foul shots last year, good for 11th in the league. Suddenly, they can’t get them to go. It is incredibly puzzling, and it needs to be fixed.
Nothing can stop Victor Oladipo
Another game, another incredible Vic performance. After sinking Boston just two nights before, Victor Oladipo was so close to saving the Pacers yet again. He matched Harden blow for blow down the stretch, only to be bested by some incredible defense by PJ Tucker. Oladipo is just unstoppable with the game on the line, and he should get the ball every time down the stretch.
The Pacers will look to start a new winning streak on Wednesday against the Philadephia 76ers. That game is at home. Go cheer on the Pacers.