On Sunday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers went on the road to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in their regular season finale. Most of the notable players from both teams either sat out or played a minimal role, and that was the expectation the whole time. However, even so, the game was much more memorable than many thought it would be.
In the game, the Pacers overcame a 27-point deficit and ultimately won the game in double overtime. Even beyond the result, this was an exciting game for Pacers fans as they got to see a lot from players who typically do not see the floor much, such as RayJ Dennis, Johnny Furphy, and Tony Bradley (who recorded a double-double). However, there was one particular player that stood out and head coach Rick Carlisle sent a clear message about after the game that will be important to keep in mind.
Rick Carlisle calls this Pacer 'a revelation'
Of all the players who stepped onto the court for Indiana, none of them stood out like Quenton Jackson did. In the win, the Los Angeles native recorded 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting (and recorded 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the second half), six rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Furthermore, Jackson connected on all seven of his free throw attempts and played solid defense.
After the game, Carlisle spoke about Jackson's performance and called him "a revelation."
"Quenton Jackson has been a revelation for our organization," Carlisle said. "His upbeat vibe. His spirit. He played 39 minutes today and he's plus-22. He made some mistakes early in the game, but he's a guy that just keeps going and keeps playing. He's had a lot of amazing challenges and his life. This is just who he is."
This was just Jackson's 28th game of the NBA season and his 31st as a member of the Pacers. Jackson spent the season on a two-way contract and played some good basketball for the team earlier in the season as well. Given his contract situation (and the fact that there is not much of a big role for him in Indiana), it would have been fair to say he did not have much of a future with the Pacers. However, given his latest performance and Carlisle's comments, this could change.
Since Jackson is on a two-way contract, he is not eligible to play in the playoffs, meaning his most recent game is the last he will play this season. Jackson is a free agent this summer, but it would not be a shock if he remains with the Pacers past this season.