These two teams have history. Just ask Tyrese Haliburton and Domantas Sabonis.
It wasn't too long ago when these two players were part of a mid-season, multi-player trade that sent Sabonis to the Kings and Haliburton to the center of Indiana.
On Sunday evening, the two teams faced off for the first time this season. This contest went in favor of Indiana, 122-95. The Pacers are currently on their longest win streak of the season, as Sacramento has now lost just as many in a row.
Last year's runner-ups in the Eastern Conference Finals showed no mercy to the Kings, who are coming off back-to-back losses against LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers. Haliburton turned in a double-double on Thursday to torch the Phoenix Suns on the road.
As the Pacers put the Kings' reign over them on pause, let's take a look at the winners and losers in this game.
Winner: The Pacers' 4th quarter defense
Look! When we normally give praise to Indiana, it is for their accomplishments and accolades on offense.
Sunday, some praise is well-deserved for the Pacers' fourth-quarter defense. Indiana limited the Kings to just 17 points in the final period of play. Indiana nearly doubled that by scoring 35 points to close out the contest.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlise, who is known for some strong defensive units with his days on the sidelines for the Dallas Mavericks and the Detroit Pistons, saw his team come up with three crucial turnovers by Sacramento.
Aside from the Kings' starting point guard, De'Aaron Fox, no other player for Sacramento scored more than 20 points against the Pacers on Sunday.
Loser: The Pacers' first quarter offense
Indiana racked up 21 points in the opening period of play at Sacramento. The Kings took a two-point lead with them into the second quarter. The score was tied 52-52 at halftime.
That put a good amount of pressure for the Pacers' offense to have to score against the Kings who also can light up the scoreboard with ease, as well.
Winner: The Pacers' second unit
It is no secret that Indiana's roster runs deep with multiple members of their bench squad performing well. They were the league's highest-scoring second unit last season.
Sunday night, they looked the part against the Kings. While the starters combined for 54 points, the Pacers' bench outscored them by putting up 58 points themselves. Sacramento's bench scored less than 30 points.
Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker both made four of their eight shot attempts. Combined, they racked up 20 points and each made a three-point field goal.
Veteran T.J. McConnell impacted the game, too. He had a double-double off the bench with his 12 points and 10 assists. The backup point guard also collected seven rebounds.
Bennedict Mathurin was the leading scorer for Indiana's second unit. He went a perfect 5-5 from the field while adding 14 points to the Pacers' score sheet. The second-year guard made all four of his shots from deep, as well.
Loser: Bennedict Mathurin (more so his scoring...or lack thereof)
When a starter for any team plays in a game for 30 minutes, a four-point performance is not beneficial. Mathurin found the basket twice in his nine attempts. He also missed the three looks he took from behind the arc.
Mathurin did find other ways to produce for the Pacers. He hauled in eight rebounds and assisted on three plays.
James Johnson, who only checked into the game for five minutes, is the only Pacers player to score less than Mathurin. However, the former Arizona Wildcat had the team's highest plus/minus with a +27.
Winner: Pascal Siakam
McConnell was not the only Pacer to record a double-double. The Pacers' starting power forward did so by pulling down 10 boards and scoring 19 points.
Siakam made two of his five shots from beyond the arc and added three more points from the free-throw line. The former NBA champ played a physical game. He committed the most fouls on the team with three.
The 30-year-old in the league's Top 40 in terms of points and rebounds per game in addition to field goal percentage. Sunday was Siakam's second consecutive double-double.
Loser: Indiana's ability to get to the free-throw line
As mentioned, Siakam went three-for-five from the charity strip. That accounted for 60% of Indiana's made free throws.
The only other player for the Pacers to make it to the free-throw line was Toppin. He made two of his three shots from the foul line.
Sacramento committed just 11 fouls. Indiana failed to attack the rim and be aggressive enough to draw contact while shooting.
Entering Sunday, Indiana averaged more than 20 free throw attempts per contest. Going 5-8 from the foul line doesn't make scoring points easy, the Pacers still scored 122 points in the 27-point blowout at the Golden 1 Center.
The Pacers' next opponent, the Golden State Warriors, allow close to 23 free throws a game. Indiana's offense must draw more contact to force the referee's whistles to blow.
This will allow Siakam, Toppin, and company to make more shots at the free-throw line and add more points to the scoreboard more easily.