The Indiana Pacers just picked up what may be their best win of the season. After losing to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, they bounced back in a big way.
Tyrese Haliburton went down with an injury in the second quarter, one that looked bad at the moment, but the Pacers were able to climb all the way back and take down the best team in the league.
Jayson Tatum was absent with an injury, but Jaylen Brown poured in a season-high 40 points. Some antics at the end of the game shouldn’t take away from the Pacers’ big-time victory.
Let’s take a look at two studs and one dud from the Pacers’ 133-131 win over the Celtics on Monday night.
Stud - Three-point shooters (Mathurin, Hield, Nesmith)
There were too many players to pick just one for this spot on the list. Benedict Mathurin, Buddy Hield, and Aaron Nesmith all came in clutch in the second half for the Pacers, and they did most of their damage from behind the three-point line.
Boston was up by nine points going into halftime, but as the third quarter began, Nesmith drilled some huge threes to help keep Indiana in the game.
Hield’s shot-making came in clutch later in the quarter, helping tie things up and bring the Pacers ahead after the Celtics controlled the game for much, if not all, of the first half.
And as for Mathurin, he was the shot-maker of the evening, nailing contested threes and the two free throws that eventually sealed the win for the Pacers after a foul by Kristaps Porzingis.
Dud - The court
There were no duds in this game. The closest thing to a dud may have been Isaiah Jackson, who got goaded into an altercation with Boston Celtics big man Luke Kornet.
Jackson pushed him to the ground, and then Kornet gave his teammates some high-fives while the Pacers big man tried to anger him (to no avail).
However, the one dud of the night was the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as Tyrese Haliubrton’s slip in the paint could have huge ramifications for the remainder of the Indiana Pacers’ season.
When Haliburton was driving to the paint in the second quarter, he slipped, falling into a split position and hurting what appeared to be his left hamstring, as reported by the team’s official Twitter account.
They revealed that the injury is just a strain, but from the look of Haliburton’s reaction on the court and his teammates carrying him off with a towel over his head (as the point guard was in tears), it could end up being a lot worse.
If Haliburton ends up having to miss extended time, the Pacers’ hopes of making a run to the playoffs could end just as they did last season when the star point guard went down. It would be an absolute disaster for Indiana.
Bennedict Mathurin hit some big shots, as did Buddy Hield and Aaron Nesmith. Jalen Smith made a huge impact on the glass, affecting the game with his energy. Obi Toppin poured in 13 points off the bench.
Stud - TJ McConnell
Bennedict Mathurin hit some big shots, as did Buddy Hield and Aaron Nesmith. Jalen Smith made a huge impact on the glass, affecting the game with his energy. Obi Toppin poured in 13 points off the bench.
Everyone was contributing for the Pacers on Monday night, helping them make a comeback against the Boston Celtics, but no one played a bigger role than veteran point guard TJ McConnell.
At every turn, McConnell was affecting the game in a positive way. Whether it was his hustle play causing an inbound turnover, a turnaround jumper helping push the Pacers forward, or his much-needed playmaking with Tyrese Haliburton out, McConnell was always there.
He finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals while shooting 6-of-12 from the floor. McConnell was also a team-high +10 on the night.
No matter where the Celtics looked, McConnell was there, acting as a constant thorn in their side. He almost single-handedly got the Pacers crowd amped up. And they were loud.
Haliburton’s injury riled up the team, and McConnell was the source of the flame. If it weren’t for McConnell’s impact on the game, the Pacers wouldn’t have won. He was huge for Indiana.