3 biggest takeaways from the Pacers’ preseason win over the Hornets

3 biggest takeaways from the Indiana Pacers’ drubbing of the Charlotte Hornets

2. THE bench

While the Indiana Pacers made quick work of the Charlotte Hornets, it was actually the bench that stood out for the former. Even in a rout, only one starter (Myles Turner) finished the contest with a positive plus/minus.

Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, and Isaiah Jackson each had double figures in this game. The latter two were the biggest standouts, Nesmith being the lone player to drain more than a single trey, and Jackson effortlessly collecting four blocks.

Meanwhile, TJ McConnell looked every bit of his usual self, racking up six assists, and of course, a steal, in just 14 minutes. Overall, Indiana more than doubled Charlotte’s 37 bench points with 77 of their own.

The Pacers already have a talented starting five, but to make even more noise next season, the bench will have to do some heavy lifting as well. With some more consistency, the second unit’s performance in Charlotte could signal a jump  from last season’s middling finish as the 15th-best scoring bench in the league.