The Indiana Pacers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies in an ugly contest to win three in a row.
The Indiana Pacers welcomed the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon to complete their four-game homestand. Although it was the two teams’ second encounter of the season, each group had changed significantly since December.
There was Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Desmond Bane, and Ja Morant absent this time. Since their last game, both teams have had injuries and transactions. This battle was going to be very different from the one last month
For the first few minutes of the match, neither team was able to gain any kind of edge. It was a low-scoring start, as the Grizzlies and Pacers combined to make one of the first ten threes attempted. Memphis was ahead 11–6 after 4.5 minutes.
For the following few minutes, the action continued at a crawl. The Grizzlies’ strong, rugged defense allowed them to maintain their lead, but their offense was falling short of expectations. With 3:39 remaining in the first quarter, the score was still five points.
For the benefit of the blue and gold, Bennedict Mathurin set out to alter that. His squad was able to establish an offensive rhythm as he began to apply pressure to the rim and find some rhythm. With 12 points in the first quarter, Mathurin helped Indiana close the gap.
After 12 minutes, Memphis led 27–23. With eight points, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies, while Mathurin led the Pacers in points.
For the opening few minutes of the second quarter, it resembled the first one a lot. The game was incredibly arrhythmic. There was no momentum for either team, and the shots were not falling.
After the Grizzlies tied the game with a run of their own, the score remained close for the remainder of the half. Vince Williams Jr. was having a fantastic game for the visiting team, and Jackson Jr. performed well to get Memphis back into the game on both ends.
Memphis gained momentum during the period. They were able to regain the lead at 53-51 going into the half after a good second half. Jackson Jr. and Williams Jr. both scored twelve points. Up until then, Mathurin had scored 19, whereas Pascal Siakam had only scored 10.
The home team started the second half playing better. They had a great offensive display and early in the third quarter, they took the lead again after making three straight free throws.
Early in the second half, Siakam was a crucial player for the Pacers who the Grizzlies defense had to respect in addition to his ability to make baskets. He made things easy for his teammates, and Indiana took good use of it.
With just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, they had a five-point advantage, and Jalen Smith had just finished a crucial solo run. With a spectacular three-pointer and a clutch dunk, he scored five points on his own to energize the fans. Memphis tried to reorganize as a unit by calling a timeout.
As the half came to an end, the Grizzlies managed to stay in the game but were unable to take the lead again. Conversely, Indiana gained some traction thanks to a few standout plays. Ziaire Williams was completely dunked over by Mathurin, who then converted a and-one layup in the transition. For the first time that evening, the crowd became boisterous, and the Pacers were up eleven points.
At the end of the quarter, their lead was 10 points, 92-82. At that moment, Mathurin had 24 points, and six players for the blue and gold were in double figures.
Another spectacular play by the Pacers, this time from Isaiah Jackson, opened the fourth quarter. It gave his team a commanding lead and made guaranteed Indiana would be rolling early in the quarter. Up until then, Jackson had been enjoying an incredible second half.
In reaction, Memphis went on the rampage. With eight minutes left, they managed to thread together a few stops and reduce the lead to just three. Paint pressure was a problem for Indiana at the time.
It was a pivotal moment when Jackson Jr. picked up his fifth foul of the match, maintaining that score gap. Even though he had 20 points at the moment, the Grizzlies elected to sit him. For the Pacers, who had lost their rhythm, it was a huge break.
For the following few plays, the Pacers were able to hold onto their tiny lead, and with 4:20 remaining in the game, they were up three points during a stoppage. They were finally out of the mud offensively. However, a strong finish to the game was necessary for them to win.
The next few minutes went back-and-forth, with a ton of angst building in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Memphis tied the game at 107, but Smith answered with a huge three on the very next possession.
Indiana wasn’t perfect for the next few plays, but they did just enough to never give up their lead again. They got a key stop with 31 seconds left while up by four, so all the blue and gold had to do to win was avoid turnovers and hit free throws.
They completed the task at hand despite the late hour. For their third consecutive victory, the Pacers hung on to win 116-110. Even though it wasn’t attractive, it was still a win.
Mathurin received 24 points in the end. Smith and Siakam each had 19. Both Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith scored sixteen points. Everyone had a part to play.
The Pacers take on the Celtics in Boston on Tuesday night on TNT.
