INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Porter Jr. scored 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Nets to a 112-103 win over the Pacers on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, becoming the last team in the NBA to win a game.

The Pacers fell to 1-7 to match the Nets’ 1-7 mark for the worst record in the NBA.

Nets center Nic Claxton posted 18 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Noah Clowney had 17 points, guard Tyrese Martin 16 and guard Terance Mann 15 points and six assists. Forward Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points. Guard Ben Sheppard had 18 points, center Jay Huff had 16 and forward Aaron Nesmith had 15.

Here are three observations.

Pacers go cold in fourth quarter

The Pacers took an 83-80 lead into the fourth quarter but fell apart as they failed to find the bucket. The Nets opened the period on a 21-8 run as the Pacers made just 4 of their first 16 shots. The Nets ended up winning the period 32-20 as the Pacers shot 8 of 24 from the floor, 3 of 10 from 3 while Brooklyn was 9 of 19, 4 of 11.

Martin hit a key 3-pointer with 1:36 left to put the Nets up nine, and even though Nesmith answered immediately to make it a six-point game the Pacers didn’t get within four points after that.

Ben Sheppard, Jay Huff break out of slumps

Ben Sheppard was a constant in the Pacers rotation in his first two seasons because he had a simple role and he played it well. On offense, he sprinted the corner on every possession and waited for the ball to find him. If it did and he was open, he shot. If he wasn’t, he kept the ball moving. That made him a perfectly effective cog in the Pacers’ randomized, uptempo, ball-movement based offense and he also had the stamina to put pressure on the ball full-court so he was a stable in the Pacers’ second units each of the last two seasons.

But all of the Pacers’ injuries have forced Sheppard not only into the starting lineup, but in a role that requires ball-handling, shot-creation and taking shots that aren’t nearly as wide open as the ones he’s had the last two seasons. That’s been a bit of a struggle. Heading into Wednesday’s game, Sheppard was shooting 32% from the floor and 18.5% from 3-point range. He was averaging 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game — which would all be career-highs if he kept them up for a season — by sheer virtue of more minutes and volume of opportunities, but he was decidedly less efficient than he’s ever been. In the five games prior to Wednesday’s game — since guards Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin have both been out — Sheppard made just 7 of 31 field goals and 1 of 17 3-pointers for 22 total points.

Wednesday night was the first time since the Pacers have been depleted that Sheppard found a rhythm. He scored a team-high 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting in the first half and was +13 in his time in the floor. In the second half he wasn’t as prolific but still scored 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting including 3 of 7 from 3-point range

Meanwhile, the Pacers traded for Jay Huff in part because he’s a proven 3-point shooter and they needed one at the center position after the departure of Myles Turner. Huff struggled to meet the moment early and made just 3 of 17 3-pointers in the season’s first seven games. However on Wednesday he found a rhythm and had confidence enough to keep shooting even when he was well covered. He scored 16 points — by far a season-high — on 5 of 10 shooting, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl gives Pacers a spark on the glass

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has yet to practice with the Pacers since signing a 10-day hardship contract on Saturday, but in his third game with the Pacers he showed where he might be able to make an impact.

The former Villanova star was all over the boards from the beginning, grabbing six first-quarter rebounds. He kept scrapping and ended up with 15, including seven on the offensive end. He wasn’t quite as effective shooting the ball, making just 3 of 9 field goals, but he still finished with eight points.

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