Positive: Scoring barrage continues in high volumes
At this point, it seems like Indiana's hot scoring start to the season is becoming less of a hot start and more of what this team really is. For the sixth time this season, the Pacers have scored over 120 points, and have passed the 130 mark for the third time this season.
Once again, six Pacers players scored in double figures, with five scoring above 15 points, including two players that we will talk about shortly.
The standout performance scoring-wise on the night came from an unlikely source, as Aaron Nesmith notched his second 20+ point game of the season, leading the team with 24 points on a fantastic 9/13 from the field and 4/6 from beyond the arc.
Nesmith has surprised everyone this season so far, coming out as a much improved offensive player from the previous year, putting up several solid scoring nights and at times being the only source of offense on the team, as his aggressive drives to the basket often lead to points or free throws.
Between Nesmith, Jalen Smith, and the struggling Buddy Hield, you may notice that half of Indiana's six double-digit scorers came from the bench, and that has been quite common so far in the season.
The Pacers scored 59 bench points on Wednesday compared to Utah's 37 points. In addition, Utah's highest bench scorers were Collin Sexton and Simon Fontecchio at 10 points each while the Pacers got the aforementioned 24 from Nesmith as well as 16 from Smith and 10 from Buddy Hield.
Currently, the Pacers are far and away the league leaders in bench points with 54.3 (second-place Washington is still almost eight points behind at 46.6). The Pacers have been managing their depth well, knowing that any player could have a big game at any time and understanding that they should share the wealth.
They are doing a good job at exactly that, as shown by their large scoring numbers in recent games. If the Pacers keep this type of play up, there is no reason why they cannot maintain a top-five offense for the rest of the season.