Pacers showed hope in the fourth quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers, but fell in the final minute. Hear from NBA reporter Dustin Dopirak on what went right for the Pacers.
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Video Transcript
Hey everybody, Pacers beat writer Dustin Dupire back here at Gamebridge Fieldhouse.
Hey everybody, Pacers beat writer Dustin Dupire back here at Gamebridge Fieldhouse.
Pacers lose 15th in a row, 127-119 to the Blazers.
Pacers lose 15th in a row, 127-119 to the Blazers.
But considering how bad this has been, this one actually served as a relative positive because the Pacers had a really good second half in this one, led by really their depth unit of, it was Talan Peter, Jalen Slawson, Cam Jones, Kobe Brown, Jaris Walker, I think were the five that were on the floor at that point in time.
But considering how bad this has been, this one actually served as a relative positive because the Pacers had a really good second half in this one, led by really their depth unit of, it was Talan Peter, Jalen Slawson, Cam Jones, Kobe Brown, Jaris Walker, I think were the five that were on the floor at that point in time.
And they managed to hold the Blazers to 22 points in the fourth quarter, 33-22 in the fourth.
And they managed to hold the Blazers to 22 points in the fourth quarter, 33-22 in the fourth.
I believe it was 57 to 48 in the second half after they gave up 79 first half points.
I believe it was 57 to 48 in the second half after they gave up 79 first half points.
Saw a lot better pressure, a lot better, to use Ricardo’s word, presence defensively in the second half.
Saw a lot better pressure, a lot better, to use Ricardo’s word, presence defensively in the second half.
Portland in the first half really got whatever they wanted.
Portland in the first half really got whatever they wanted.
They had 24 second chance points in the first half.
They had 24 second chance points in the first half.
Were really just getting to the rim at will.
Were really just getting to the rim at will.
Pacers picked it up, played some pretty good defense, shot it reasonably well in the second half.
Pacers picked it up, played some pretty good defense, shot it reasonably well in the second half.
But some, you know, again, those depth guys, two-way contract guys really stepped it up.
But some, you know, again, those depth guys, two-way contract guys really stepped it up.
Jalen Slawson in particular, 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, 4 blocks in this game.
Jalen Slawson in particular, 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, 4 blocks in this game.
Saw a lot of activity from him.
Saw a lot of activity from him.
A lot’s been thrown at him this week.
A lot’s been thrown at him this week.
Obviously, he’s a guy that just got signed to a two-way deal after Quentin Jackson got converted from his two-way contract to a full-time contract.
Obviously, he’s a guy that just got signed to a two-way deal after Quentin Jackson got converted from his two-way contract to a full-time contract.
I think this was game five for him.
I think this was game five for him.
He had never scored in double figures in an NBA game before the Pacers promoted him.
He had never scored in double figures in an NBA game before the Pacers promoted him.
He’s done it twice in, I think, the last three games.
He’s done it twice in, I think, the last three games.
And so you’ve seen a lot of growth there.
And so you’ve seen a lot of growth there.
He’s had a lot of confidence.
He’s had a lot of confidence.
They had him guard Giannis on Tuesday, which was a lot.
They had him guard Giannis on Tuesday, which was a lot.
I don’t know if it was on Tuesday.
I don’t know if it was on Tuesday.
It was Sunday because it’s Wednesday.
It was Sunday because it’s Wednesday.
But, you know, Giannis obviously was able to go through him pretty fast.
But, you know, Giannis obviously was able to go through him pretty fast.
But you learn things from guarding a guy like Giannis.
But you learn things from guarding a guy like Giannis.
You learn things from dealing with somebody that physical.
You learn things from dealing with somebody that physical.
You get a sense of how, you know, low the margin for error is, how physical you have to be, how much you have to just keep getting up even after he scores on you.
You get a sense of how, you know, low the margin for error is, how physical you have to be, how much you have to just keep getting up even after he scores on you.
And you saw that really pick up for him.
And you saw that really pick up for him.
He started this game as well.
He started this game as well.
He played 37 minutes.
He played 37 minutes.
He guarded Jeremy Grant to start this game.
He guarded Jeremy Grant to start this game.
Jeremy Grant was 3 of 11 for 8 points.
Jeremy Grant was 3 of 11 for 8 points.
I mean, Jeremy Grant is a guy that usually beats the Pacers bad.
I mean, Jeremy Grant is a guy that usually beats the Pacers bad.
He has just, you know, consistently crushed them no matter who’s been on him throughout the years in recent seasons.
He has just, you know, consistently crushed them no matter who’s been on him throughout the years in recent seasons.
And Jalen Slawson gave him problems.
And Jalen Slawson gave him problems.
So that’s something worth noting.
So that’s something worth noting.
Talan Peter was another guy who played pretty well in this game.
Talan Peter was another guy who played pretty well in this game.
He had 8 points.
He had 8 points.
I’m sorry, he had 10 points.
I’m sorry, he had 10 points.
Kobe Brown had 8 points.
Kobe Brown had 8 points.
Cam Jones had some good moments in this one.
Cam Jones had some good moments in this one.
Jaris Walker ended up with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists.
Jaris Walker ended up with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists.
Had some shaky moments, but played pretty well with that group.
Had some shaky moments, but played pretty well with that group.
And so, you know, some stuff to build on.
And so, you know, some stuff to build on.
And that’s really all you’re going to get from this point forward.
And that’s really all you’re going to get from this point forward.
Obviously, the Pacers are playoff eliminated.
Obviously, the Pacers are playoff eliminated.
They’re 15 and 55.
They’re 15 and 55.
At the end of the day, they’re better off losing than they are winning.
At the end of the day, they’re better off losing than they are winning.
But seeing some of these young guys grow up quickly and have to do stuff, something worth building on.
But seeing some of these young guys grow up quickly and have to do stuff, something worth building on.
Obviously, they’re going to have to make a lot of decisions as to who goes, who stays, who stays in their situations.
Obviously, they’re going to have to make a lot of decisions as to who goes, who stays, who stays in their situations.
Jalen Slawson has at the very least made a really good case to stay on a two-way contract for next year and have a guy that they can bring up from time to time to give themselves forward depth.
Jalen Slawson has at the very least made a really good case to stay on a two-way contract for next year and have a guy that they can bring up from time to time to give themselves forward depth.
And so, again, some growth for some guys that are being thrust into some tough positions here.
And so, again, some growth for some guys that are being thrust into some tough positions here.
And they made this one a game.
And they made this one a game.
They came within three points in the fourth quarter before Drew Holiday hit a really big three with a minute to go to kind of put the thing away.
They came within three points in the fourth quarter before Drew Holiday hit a really big three with a minute to go to kind of put the thing away.
But there was a moment where it was in doubt for Portland.
But there was a moment where it was in doubt for Portland.
And the Pacers have been down something like 25 or something like that in the third quarter.
And the Pacers have been down something like 25 or something like that in the third quarter.
So, you know, again, some stuff worth building on.
So, you know, again, some stuff worth building on.
Pacers go on the road this week.
Pacers go on the road this week.
They’ll be in, weekend they’ll be in San Antonio and Orlando.
They’ll be in, weekend they’ll be in San Antonio and Orlando.
We won’t be there, but we’ll continue to follow that stuff.
We won’t be there, but we’ll continue to follow that stuff.
So stick with us.
So stick with us.