Pacers’ Strong Offense Struggles to Contain Spurs
Point guard Dylan Harper and bench wing Keldon Johnson each scored 24 points to lead the Spurs to a 134-119 victory over the Pacers on Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The game marked another significant win for the Spurs, who continue to climb the standings with their strong performance.
The Pacers have now suffered a franchise-record 16 consecutive losses, sitting at an abysmal 15-56 record. This struggling season is actually beneficial for them as they are in the hunt for a top-four pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Meanwhile, the Spurs improved their record to 53-18 after securing their fifth straight win. They’ve been dominant lately, winning 10 of their last 11 games, 21 of their last 23, and currently hold the second-best record in the Western Conference behind the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama contributed significantly with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five blocks. Guard De’Aaron Fox added 14 points and seven assists. On the Pacers’ side, point guard Andrew Nembhard led the way with 25 points and seven assists, while forward Jarace Walker scored 21 points and dished out four assists. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam had 14 points, and Obi Toppin added 11.
Here are three key observations from the game:
Pacers Offense Operates at High Level, Defense Does Not
The Pacers showed that they can still play fast-paced, ball-movement-driven offense even without Tyrese Haliburton on the floor. Despite the recent injury news regarding newly acquired center Ivica Zubac, who will be out for the rest of the season due to a fractured rib, the team managed to field one of their healthiest rosters of the season. This allowed them to maintain a high level of offensive efficiency.
The Pacers shot 44 of 85 from the floor (51.8%) and 16 of 35 from 3-point range (45.7%). They also made 15 of their 19 free throw attempts. The team recorded 38 assists on their 44 field goals, including 35 of their first 38. Their offensive efficiency was impressive, with a 1.20 points per possession rating. Four players finished in double figures, and seven others had at least nine points. Every player who took the court had at least 11 field goal attempts.
However, the Pacers struggled defensively, allowing the Spurs to dominate inside the paint. San Antonio shot 53 of 97 from the floor (54.6%), hit 13 three-pointers, and outscored the Pacers 76-48 in the paint. Victor Wembanyama played a major role in this, scoring 20 points despite being less efficient than usual. The Spurs’ guards and wings were able to get to the rim with ease, with Keldon Johnson making 10 of 12 shots and Dylan Harper making 9 of 13. The Pacers have struggled with defense since the All-Star break, allowing 126.3 points per game, which has led to their losing streak.
The Spurs outrebounded the Pacers 49-26, won on second-chance points 20-7, and dominated on fast-break points 20-12. They also outscored the Pacers on points off turnovers 22-15, despite having just 10 turnovers compared to the Spurs’ 12. San Antonio scored 42 points in the first quarter on 1.54 points per possession, and the Pacers never managed to close the gap beyond eight points.
“There’s been a pattern of this,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “We’ve had a lot of rough second quarters. Tonight, the first quarter was obviously the one. The rest of the game was even, within two points. This is a loud place. This is a great first-quarter team. We just needed to have a lot more resistance in that first quarter and we just didn’t do it. … We just got really hit in some of these areas where you gotta be solid.”
Pascal Siakam Returns with 14 Points
All-Star forward Pascal Siakam missed six games due to a right knee sprain but returned to the court and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. The four-time All-Star hasn’t been held to single-digit scoring all season, and he scored 10 points in the first quarter alone on 4 of 7 shooting. The Spurs did a better job of limiting his opportunities after that, but he still finished with 14 points on 6 of 14 shooting and added five assists.
Jarace Walker Posts Strong Shooting Night
Third-year forward Jarace Walker remains one of the Pacers’ few bright spots this season. He has played in 70 of the Pacers’ 71 games and is second on the team in total minutes, which has given him more confidence in tough situations. Even with the presence of Victor Wembanyama, Walker remained focused and made 8 of 10 field goals, including 5 of 7 from three-point range, for 21 points. This was his sixth straight game in double figures and his 10th in his last 11 games.
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