Pacers outlast short-handed Warriors for 5th straight win

Field Level Media|published: Fri 10th January, 21:52 2025

Jan 10, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) dribbles the ball while Golden State Warriors guard Pat Spencer (61) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam combined for 50 points while missing just six shots and the Indiana Pacers held off the short-handed Golden State Warriors for a 108-96 victory Friday night in Indianapolis.

Haliburton and Siakam shared game-high scoring honors with 25 points apiece for the Pacers, who won a fifth straight game and completed a two-game season-series sweep of the Warriors. Haliburton shot 8-for-10 while padding his point total with a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line, while Siakam went 12-for-16 from the floor.

Both found time to complete double-doubles. Haliburton had a game-high 10 assists to go with three steals, while Siakam snatched a team-high 10 rebounds.

Bennedict Mathurin paired 21 points with 10 rebounds for Indiana, which outshot Golden State 52.4 percent to 41.3 percent. Myles Turner (11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) and T.J. McConnell (10 points, six assists) rounded out the Pacers' five double-digit scorers.

Pat Spencer had a career-high 17 points for the Warriors, who were playing the second night of a back-to-back without six regulars, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga.

Buddy Hield also had 17 points for Golden State but missed 9 of his 12 3-point attempts. In the absence of Curry, who was resting sore knees, the Warriors shot just 10-for-38 from beyond the arc.

Former Indiana University standout Trayce Jackson-Davis chipped in nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds for the Warriors. Dennis Schroder had 12 points, Gui Santos scored 11 and Kyle Anderson netted eight to complement seven rebounds and a team-high five assists.

Despite outscoring Golden State in each of the first three quarters, Indiana led just 80-76 after Warriors G League call-up Quinten Post buried his first NBA 3-pointer with 10:18 remaining in the game.

But Thomas Bryant and Siakam countered immediately with 3-pointers to create a double-digit cushion. A bucket from Spencer got Golden State within 98-89, but Mathurin responded with a 3-pointer to replenish Indiana's double-digit lead for the final 3:36.

Spencer, a second-year Warrior, took advantage of increased playing time to hit 7 of his 12 shots. His previous career-high had been six points, set on Nov. 27 against Oklahoma City.

--Field Level Media

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