Pacers can’t stop the 3s, lose to Mavericks
By Tony East
The Indiana Pacers were right there every step of the way, but they couldn’t quite catch the Mavericks and fell in Dallas.
Remember the Pelicans game in New Orleans? The one where the Indiana Pacers hit timely shot after timely shot to hang on to the win despite constantly losing their momentum in the 4th quarter?
Tonight was the opposite of that. The Pacers kept going on mini-runs, only to be thwarted by a momentum-killing 3 from the Dallas Mavericks in the 4th quarter. The Pacers couldn’t get it done.
100. 110. 79. Final. 101
The Mavs hit 8 threes in the 4th quarter alone, they hit shots when it mattered most. In fact, just their three-pointers by themselves were enough to outscore the Pacers in the final frame. They could not be stopped from long range.
The tough task for the Pacers was to guard Luka Doncic, and the rookie proved why that task is tough. He had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in 31 minutes tonight. His size gave Darren Collison fits, and his outside shot gave like-size defenders fits. Indiana didn’t have an answer, and it cost them the game.
On the Pacers side, it’s hard to find any bright spots. Everyone just kinda played… fine. Foul trouble made the big man rotation weird, and nobody ever really got in a rhythm on the offensive end outside of a short Wesley Matthews outburst in the late 4th quarter. It was a very average performance from the team overall.
The one bright spot? We got a new entry into the McDunkContest:
#McDunkContest pic.twitter.com/vwJOFS49AA
— Tony East (@TonyREast) February 28, 2019
The Pacers needed more from their point guards
Darren Collison and Cory Joseph combined for 14 points and 8 assists. That would be a good stat line for one player, but for two that just isn’t going to cut it.
They shot 4/14 from the field and fouled more often than they typically do. Neither of them felt like they were in control, which it usually does feel like with them. Indiana needed more from their ball-handlers.
Missing Sabonis
Kyle O’Quinn racked up 3 quick fouls (1 of which was flagrant) in this game and was only able to play 10 total minutes. Myles Turner struggled with foul trouble in the first half as well.
Of all the nights to be missing Domantas Sabonis, tonight was a brutal one. The team turned to Thaddeus Young at center (it worked on its own) but that wore down Young quicker than a typical game.
The bench never quite got it going. It’s easy to tell what kind of impact Sabonis has when he doesn’t play and the second-unit offense stagnates.
TJ Leaf!
Leaf was the only guy who outperformed his expectations in this game, and he kinda wildly outperformed them.
He had 9 points and 7 rebounds in just 16 minutes and didn’t miss a shot from the field. After a dud of a performance on Monday, it was good to see this game from Leaf.
And now, grades:
PG. Indiana Pacers. DARREN COLLISON. D +. Remember when DC couldn’t do much of anything early in the season? That is what he looked like tonight. 1/6 shooting, 7 points, 4 assists, 2 turnovers. Doncic scored on him easily when the two were matched up. It was a tough game for Collison.
B. Matthews began sniping away from deep in the 4th quarter, for a second it looked like he might lead Indiana back. 4/10 from deep, but 3 turnovers and 4 fouls.. SG. Indiana Pacers. WESLEY MATTHEWS
B. Bogey got a technical foul with the game still hanging in the balance that didn’t seem to spark anything for the Pacers. His 22 points were crucial. His 4 turnovers were not.. SF. Indiana Pacers. BOJAN BOGDANOVIC
PF. Indiana Pacers. THADDEUS YOUNG. B. 11/5/5 for Thad. A typical game for him on a night in which the team needed someone to step up. He had Dirk guarding him, who can barely run down the floor. I thought Thad could have done a bit more.
C. Indiana Pacers. MYLES TURNER. C +. 13 and 5 on 4/10 shooting. 4 steals were great. 5 fouls were not.
C. Only 10 minutes for O’Quinn, who had 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 fouls.. C. Indiana Pacers. KYLE O'QUINN
Indiana Pacers. CORY JOSEPH. B. The Pacers needed Joseph’s defense tonight, and he had to play 31 minutes with Tyreke Evans out. He was adequate on both ends. Solid game overall.. PG
SF. Indiana Pacers. DOUG MCDERMOTT. C +. The team was a +8 with McDermott on the floor, which was the best of any player on Indiana. McDermott offered spacing, but missed both of his 3s and only added 7 points.
B +. Leaf played well with his 9 points and 7 rebounds, and he even had a few nice defensive moments sprinkled in there. Thad might have had to play all 48 if Leaf didn’t step up tonight.. PF. Indiana Pacers. TJ LEAF
Indiana Pacers. AARON HOLIDAY. -. Holiday only got 3 minutes of playing time, so no grade. He shot 1/3 from the field. On his two 3-point attempts, he airballed one and canned the other. One of those nights. Nate couldn’t trust him in this close game.. PG
B -. Nate acknowledged after the game that the team played too much 1-on-1 ball and were distracted by the officials, per Scott Agness of the Athletic. I agree with Nate.. Head Coach. Indiana Pacers. NATE MCMILLAN
Why Myles Turner deserves the Defensive Player of The Year award. dark. Next
The Pacers head home for a back to back with the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow night.