Indiana Pacers: Three things learned in win over Lakers
By Justin Byers
The duo of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis can make it happen
The Indiana Pacers frontcourt is starting to come together.
Sabonis has been the Pacers’ best player so far this season. On the other hand, Turner has had inconsistent stretches of play.
However, the combination came out firing against the Lakers and have given the team and fans a spark.
As of late, Turner has held his own defensively but had yet to really get off the ground on the other side of the floor to start December.
On Tuesday night, that changed as Turner got back on track.
Besides hauling in seven rebounds and dishing out two blocks, Turner found a groove and finished the night with 16 points.
Turner was able to stretch the floor and find multiple ways to score. Turner luckily found his shot from beyond the arc and sank three, three-pointers.
Each of the buckets was timely and allowed the Pacers to gain an edge during important stretches.
Turner’s ability to regain momentum is an encouraging sign as the 2020 portion of the season approaches.
Turner’s counterpart, Sabonis, would have another strong night as he finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
The duo combined for 42 points and 17 rebounds. That outscored the Lakers’ pair of big men JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard, who combined for 30 points.
Many have had mixed reviews regarding whether Turner and Sabonis can make it work. However, last night’s performance against the Lakers served as evidence that the pair can flourish, even against the NBA’s best team.
Turner and Sabonis will continue to grow as the season moves forward which means the pair has yet to reach its ceiling. As Nate McMillan solidifies the rotation, expect for the relationship of Sabonis and Turner to get more serious.