The Pacers upped their aggressiveness within the second Paris recreation and discombobulated the Spurs offense with a full court docket press as they surged to a 15 level halftime lead. The Spurs fought again within the early a part of the third quarter and even took the lead briefly. Sadly for the Silver and Black, Tyrese Halliburton went nuclear, scoring 18 within the quarter, virtually all in the previous few minutes because the Pacers regained management to guide by 12 after three quarters. The Spurs reverted to a few of their dangerous habits of their January stoop because the execution started to disintegrate within the fourth quarter and the Pacers gained 136-98.
The Spurs break up the sequence in Paris with the Pacers and at the moment are 20-23 for the season. They return to San Antonio for a recreation in opposition to the Clippers subsequent Wednesday. Even with the blowout loss at this time, it’s nonetheless been a profitable journey for the Spurs and the League, and the Parisian followers received a particular deal with by having the ability to watch Victor Wembanyama in his house nation.
Observations
Andrew Nembhard received off to a robust begin for Indiana utilizing his craftiness within the paint to get off pictures and making offensive rebounds because the Pacers took an early 7 level lead.
With the remainder of the Spurs getting off to a sluggish begin, Harrison Barnes began off as scorching as he was within the earlier recreation, scoring 11 of the primary 18 for the Silver and Black.
The Pacers performed with extra urgency from the opening tip, stealing the ball from the Spurs for a straightforward breakaway dunk.
The Pacers took a 33-24 lead after one quarter, making the most of a Spurs squad that appeared a step gradual, maybe struggling a little bit of a Paris hangover.
The Spurs began to shake off the rust within the second quarter as Wembanyama hit a ridiculous three-point banker from close to halfcourt to chop the result in 5. They tied it up with 7 minutes left within the quarter on a pair of Wemby free throws. Indiana struck again for the remainder of the quarter by extending their offense to full court docket and discombobulating the Spurs on offense and utilizing turnovers to shut the quarter on a 15-3 run to guide 65-50 on the half.
Mamukelashvili is again within the rotation now. I’m unsure why, but it surely appears to be working. Having one other large that may rating and facilitate the offense makes up for his defensive shortcomings.
Citadel will get numerous contact with none calls within the paint. I assume that’s the lifetime of an NBA rookie. Within the second half, he stopped attempting to attract fouls and took up the ball robust to the ring, which appeared to work higher.
The Spurs had 12 turnovers within the first half, which isn’t one thing they will afford to do in opposition to a talented staff just like the Pacers. For the sport the Spurs had 24 of them, and that’s a recipe for catastrophe.
The Spurs reversed the tables on the Pacers to start out the third quarter as they grew to become the aggressor and the lead into single digits early within the quarter. They lastly regained the lead with just below 5 minutes left within the third on a Wembanyama midrange in visitors the place he completed via contact and not using a foul name. Sadly for the Silver and Black, Tyrese Halliburton went nuclear after that, scoring 18 factors within the quarter and the Pacers led 98-86 after three. The Pacers run coincided with Victor going to the bench, which is the most important weak point of the present Spurs staff.
The Spurs got here out with power to start out the fourth and tried to match the Pacers depth. The execution wasn’t there for the nice guys as they made too many turnovers that led to simple Pacers factors, and the deficit grew. The final 3 and a half minutes of the sport have been rubbish time because the Pacers led by greater than 30.
After the Spurs led 77-76 with about 17 minutes left within the recreation, they have been outscored by the Pacers 60-21. That appears sort of ridiculous.
I don’t perceive the flagrant foul by Jarace Walker on Sidy in rubbish time. The sport was over, no cause to make a play that may damage somebody. I’m simply glad Sidy Cissoko is OK. I didn’t suppose that Mamukelashvili’s flagrant foul was fairly as harmful, however I don’t have numerous argument in opposition to him being ejected, since participant security is the rationale for the decision.
The Spurs have a couple of days off earlier than they face the Clippers subsequent Wednesday in San Antonio. With Kawhi Leonard again on the court docket for LA, this ought to be a giant recreation for the followers. I’ll be carrying my Kawhi Leonard Spurs jersey.
