Pacers build 25-point lead, cruise to win over Pelicans

Field Level Media|published: Sun 15th December, 19:47 2024

NBA: New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers

Dec 15, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) passes the ball while New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 22 points, helping lead the Indiana Pacers to a 119-104 win over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans in Indianapolis on Sunday.

Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 10 assists, while Andrew Nembhard added 17 points for Indiana, which has won three of its last four. Obi Toppin scored 16 off the bench and Myles Turner chipped in 14 in the win.

Brandon Boston Jr. led the Pelicans with 20 points off the bench, followed by 19 apiece from Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray. Trey Murphy III scored 16 and CJ McCollum had 15 as New Orleans lost its fourth in a row and 13th in 14 games. Yves Messi had nine points and a game-high 14 boards.

Indiana shot 50.6 percent from the field, making 41 of 81 shots, including 16 of 38 from 3-point range (42.1 percent). New Orleans finished at 39.2 percent (38 of 97) from the field and 30.3 percent on 3-point attempts (10 of 33).

Leading by 17 at halftime, the Pacers saw their lead balloon to 67-44 on Turner's dunk at the 9:53 mark of the third quarter. After Siakam's triple pushed Indiana's lead to 25, Jones' layup began a 9-0 Pelicans run to trim the deficit to 16.

With 2:07 remaining in the third, Toppin's 3-pointer extended Indiana's lead to 20, before Javonte Green and Murray's baskets cut the Pacers' advantage to 96-80. Siakam answered with a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left, giving Indiana a 99-80 lead entering the final quarter.

After Missi's dunk put the Pelicans ahead 8-2 three minutes into the game, the Pacers went on a 12-0 run, capped by Toppin's triple with 6:01 remaining.

Green's dunk with 15 seconds left trimmed the Pelicans deficit to 31-28 entering the second quarter. From there, Toppin's 3-pointer started an 8-2 Indiana run, extending the Pacers' lead to 39-29.

Five straight McCollum points were answered with another Pacers run, this time a 9-0 spurt that pushed Indiana's advantage to 14 with 5:39 left in the first half.

After Murphy's layup cut Indiana's lead to eight, the Pacers finished the opening half on an 11-2 run and took a 59-42 lead into halftime. Haliburton led the Pacers with 12 first-half points, while Murphy, Murray and Boston each had eight for the Pelicans.

--Field Level Media