3 Top performers from Indiana Pacers’ blowout win over San Antonio Spurs

Following a disappointing loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a game in which Tyrese Haliburton starred, the Indiana Pacers were determined not to make it two losses in a row, especially after a loss of that nature.

It’s pretty safe to say they achieved that goal, as they came out against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs with a purpose, jumping out to a 16-point first-quarter lead and never looking back.

The Pacers even skipped out on the usual third-quarter slump as they extended the lead all the way through the game, finishing the night with a 41-point win and a final score of 152-111, tying a team record for most points in a game.

It was clear that the Pacers’ goal going into the Spurs game was to stop star rookie Victor Wembanyama, which they did with the help of one player soon to be talked about.

With the help of some impressive defense, uncharacteristic of the Pacers at this point in the season, Wembanyama was held to a meager 13 points on 3/12 from the field.

With a win like this, it’s clear that there were plenty of standout performances, and they were. Six Pacers finished the game in double figures, and three finished with over 15 points.

However, I will not be looking at Tyrese Haliburton’s team-leading 23 points, as I would much rather look at the more surprising and standout performances on the night, including a player who didn’t score in double figures but made a huge impact on the game regardless.

So, without further ado, let’s get into these three players I would like to put a spotlight on.

1. Buddy Hield

Let’s start with one of the three players to score over 15 on the night. To win a basketball game, you preferably need to shoot well, and there are few better shooters in the world than Buddy Hield, which he showcased on the night.

While Hield’s stat line was pretty impressive (19 points on 7/8 shooting to go along with two rebounds and two assists), it was his shooting that really stood out, as he hit five threes on the night to lead the team, shooting a scorching hot 83.3% from deep.

While Hield’s threes were one thing, his confidence was another. Not usually known for anything besides his lights-out shooting, Hield displayed an uncharacteristic level of confidence finishing at the rim, going straight at Victor Wembanyama with a ball fake, and making a crafty layup around the big man.

Not usually known for his touch around the basket, Buddy Hield surprised many fans with his newfound confidence around the rim, especially going up against an elite defender like Wembanyama and finishing with no fear.

Indiana Pacers fans are hoping this is a new trait unlocked by Hield because if it is, the front office may have to pay him that extension sooner rather than later.

2. Obi Toppin

This was nice to see.

Recently, I gave Obi Toppin a grade of “C” for his Pacers stint so far, with this mostly being attributed to the fact that he did not have a true breakout game at the time of writing. It’s pretty safe to say that this has changed, and I am very happy it has.

With his best scoring game in a Pacers uniform before Monday being a mere 11 points, Toppin was on a mission to prove his worth, and it’s safe to say he proved more than his fair share. He was one of the other three players to score over 15 points on the night.

Toppin certainly had a night to remember, putting up 19 points on 6/11 shooting while also getting two steals, a very good thing to see given his defensive shortcomings so far in his NBA career.

Of course, it can’t be an Obi Toppin standout game without a highlight player, and he delivered in full, getting a steal and converting a thunderous one-handed tomahawk jam to extend the Indiana Pacers’ lead and get the crowd even more excited.

I have said this before about Obi Toppin, and I will say it again: I believe he has the tools to be a long-term starter on the Pacers team, but before this game, he was not exactly giving fans a reason to pencil him in as a guaranteed centerpiece for the team to keep going forward.

In only his seventh game as an Indiana Pacer, Toppin has found himself one step closer to proving himself in the eyes of Indiana Pacers fans with a fantastic performance on a special night this early into the 2023-24 season.

Here’s for more standout Obi Toppin games and more fantastic dunks just like the one tonight.

Isaiah Jackson

“Saving the best for last” may be an overused phrase, but I genuinely do believe that Isaiah Jackson was one of the most important players on the floor against San Antonio, even if his stats don’t exactly jump off the board.

With just seven points on 3/3 shooting and five fouls, you may question why Jackson is even on here. The answer is simple: He produced the biggest play of the night and put the Indiana Pacers on national media again briefly when he met the 7-foot-4 behemoth Victor Wembanyama at the rim and blocked his shot, sending the Pacers crowd into a frenzy and giving himself a little more recognition to the casual basketball fan.

Jackson’s defense was one of the reasons Wembanyama struggled so much against Indiana, and his block was certainly the most memorable part of a memorable night overall.

That’s not to say that was the only highlight Jackson had on the night, as he also converted on an alley-oop dunk off a pinpoint TJ McConnell lob pass in the fourth quarter, furthering the nail in the Spurs’ coffin on the night and putting a cherry on top of a dominant Pacers win.

Jackson’s performance tonight was great to see for multiple reasons. As of late, Jackson’s value to the Indiana Pacers has been in serious question, with multiple fans calling for him to be traded if he does not show serious improvement and some even calling for Daniel Theis to get his minutes instead, including tonight.

Those fans would quickly be silenced, however, as Jackson put up a great performance in the 15 minutes of action he got, limited, of course, due to his five fouls.

Recently, I wrote a piece on Jackson’s development in his NBA career so far and how this season is make-or-break for the 21-year-old due to the influx of talent Indiana has in their frontcourt and the relative lack of improvement, Jackson has shown throughout his three years in the NBA.

However, if he keeps playing this well and racking up highlights in productive performances, there is certainly a place for Jackson on this team. He clearly has the talent for it; he may just need some more opportunities to show it, and Indiana may have another keeper on their hands.