The Pacers blew a 24-point first-half led and lost to the Clippers 114-113 on a game-winning shot by Kawhi Leonard and missed free throws by Jay Huff.
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Video Transcript
Hey everybody, Pacers beat writer Dustin Duporak back here at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Hey everybody, Pacers beat writer Dustin Duporak back here at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Saw a wild one tonight.
Saw a wild one tonight.
you know, this was actually really, you know, really interesting basketball in what has been a strange season and a lot of games that weren’t particularly close.
you know, this was actually really, you know, really interesting basketball in what has been a strange season and a lot of games that weren’t particularly close.
this one was real interesting.
this one was real interesting.
Pacers lose it one fourteen, to one thirteen.
Pacers lose it one fourteen, to one thirteen.
They did have a twenty-four-point lead in this game.
They did have a twenty-four-point lead in this game.
it was the kind of lead that you kinda know was gonna fade a little bit ’cause the Pacers were just spectacular in the first quarter.
it was the kind of lead that you kinda know was gonna fade a little bit ’cause the Pacers were just spectacular in the first quarter.
They went forty-two to twenty-one.
They went forty-two to twenty-one.
shot the ball ridiculously well.
shot the ball ridiculously well.
Were like eight of eleven from three.
Were like eight of eleven from three.
had like one point five points in possession.
had like one point five points in possession.
The Clippers slowly chipped away at that, for most of the night, really back and forth in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers slowly chipped away at that, for most of the night, really back and forth in the fourth quarter.
Kawhi Leonard hits a pull-up jumper with point four seconds to go.
Kawhi Leonard hits a pull-up jumper with point four seconds to go.
That seemed like it might be it, but it wasn’t.
That seemed like it might be it, but it wasn’t.
Their last point four, point four seconds probably took about ten minutes o-of actual time.
Their last point four, point four seconds probably took about ten minutes o-of actual time.
Pacers call time out after that.
Pacers call time out after that.
had a throw-in situation from the sideline.
had a throw-in situation from the sideline.
Andrew Nembhard trying to get a tip in at the, at the rim, makes the shot from about, I don’t know, forty feet, out, out of bounds from the sideline, banks it in.
Andrew Nembhard trying to get a tip in at the, at the rim, makes the shot from about, I don’t know, forty feet, out, out of bounds from the sideline, banks it in.
You don’t get points for that, you get a turnover.
You don’t get points for that, you get a turnover.
and so the Clippers got the ball with point four seconds left.
and so the Clippers got the ball with point four seconds left.
Pacers foul Benedict Mathurin on purpose.
Pacers foul Benedict Mathurin on purpose.
Mathurin misses the first shot, misses the second one on purpose.
Mathurin misses the first shot, misses the second one on purpose.
Pascal Siakam calls time out.
Pascal Siakam calls time out.
Pacers get another crack at it, from the opposite sideline.
Pacers get another crack at it, from the opposite sideline.
throw it into J. Huff.
throw it into J. Huff.
J. Huff gets fouled, point one seconds to go, has a chance to win the thing, misses both free throws.
J. Huff gets fouled, point one seconds to go, has a chance to win the thing, misses both free throws.
Pacers lose it one fourteen to one thirteen.
Pacers lose it one fourteen to one thirteen.
obviously a heartbreaking situation for J. Huff, but as Rick Carlisle kinda pointed out, well, they have the ability to absorb these sorts of things.
obviously a heartbreaking situation for J. Huff, but as Rick Carlisle kinda pointed out, well, they have the ability to absorb these sorts of things.
this is a scenario where they put themselves in playoff type situations.
this is a scenario where they put themselves in playoff type situations.
This is the reason why Rick Carlisle has decided to kind of flip things around.
This is the reason why Rick Carlisle has decided to kind of flip things around.
I mean, I– whether you wanna call it tanking or whatever, the Pacers are clearly not prioritizing winning over the last month or so.
I mean, I– whether you wanna call it tanking or whatever, the Pacers are clearly not prioritizing winning over the last month or so.
They’re prioritizing, giving, you know, young players opportunities, letting guys with minor injuries rest.
They’re prioritizing, giving, you know, young players opportunities, letting guys with minor injuries rest.
they’re in a position where they have, you know, the, the capacity to win a couple and still stay under, still stay in the bottom three, still c- still make their lottery odds as best as they can possibly be.
they’re in a position where they have, you know, the, the capacity to win a couple and still stay under, still stay in the bottom three, still c- still make their lottery odds as best as they can possibly be.
So they’re, you know, embracing the idea of making these things feel like playoff games, and the last five, six minutes or so of this game did feel like a playoff game.
So they’re, you know, embracing the idea of making these things feel like playoff games, and the last five, six minutes or so of this game did feel like a playoff game.
Pacers did a lot of good things, as, Rick Carlisle pointed out.
Pacers did a lot of good things, as, Rick Carlisle pointed out.
Aaron Nesmith hits a three in the corner that he said should’ve been really the definitive play in that game.
Aaron Nesmith hits a three in the corner that he said should’ve been really the definitive play in that game.
They had a couple breakdowns, left, left up an open three.
They had a couple breakdowns, left, left up an open three.
Ben Shepard, had a foul and a rebound.
Ben Shepard, had a foul and a rebound.
That obviously just wasn’t, an inopportune scenario that put, I think it was Garland on the line, to make this thing a little bit closer.
That obviously just wasn’t, an inopportune scenario that put, I think it was Garland on the line, to make this thing a little bit closer.
Pascal Siakam, who had a, a rough night tonight, still had eleven points, continued his, his, consecutive game streak of, of, double digit points.
Pascal Siakam, who had a, a rough night tonight, still had eleven points, continued his, his, consecutive game streak of, of, double digit points.
but he misses a floater and then, you know, they get the ball down, call time out, and that’s what happens with the, the Leonard jumper.
but he misses a floater and then, you know, they get the ball down, call time out, and that’s what happens with the, the Leonard jumper.
So positive stuff from that end.
So positive stuff from that end.
Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson were back in the building.
Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson were back in the building.
Andrew Nembhard and Benedict Mathurin were at it tonight.
Andrew Nembhard and Benedict Mathurin were at it tonight.
by all accounts, that’s how it looks like when those guys dealt with each other, in practice, ’cause Mathurin talks trash all the time, so people talk trash to– back to him all the time.
by all accounts, that’s how it looks like when those guys dealt with each other, in practice, ’cause Mathurin talks trash all the time, so people talk trash to– back to him all the time.
seemed like they enjoyed it.
seemed like they enjoyed it.
It got a little, you know It definitely got competitive for sure.
It got a little, you know It definitely got competitive for sure.
but both of those guys were very warmly received, for this one.
but both of those guys were very warmly received, for this one.
obviously a different situation when you get traded than when you leave in free agency, as obviously Myles Turner had a tough, scenario coming back earlier this year.
obviously a different situation when you get traded than when you leave in free agency, as obviously Myles Turner had a tough, scenario coming back earlier this year.
It was easier on Mathurin, wasn’t his call to leave.
It was easier on Mathurin, wasn’t his call to leave.
So, you know, there was a pretty big ovation for that one.
So, you know, there was a pretty big ovation for that one.
They did put together a big tribute video for both of those guys.
They did put together a big tribute video for both of those guys.
and each had, you know, m- each made some contributions.
and each had, you know, m- each made some contributions.
Isaiah Jackson been playing pretty well.
Isaiah Jackson been playing pretty well.
he’s made his last fifteen shots, basically over the last four games.
he’s made his last fifteen shots, basically over the last four games.
Hasn’t missed in four games.
Hasn’t missed in four games.
he only had four points, didn’t play a lot in this game.
he only had four points, didn’t play a lot in this game.
Played a little bit under, under fifteen minutes, also had four rebounds.
Played a little bit under, under fifteen minutes, also had four rebounds.
Mathurin had seventeen points, most of them going the line, mostly ’cause Nembhard wasn’t allowed, like trying to give him the shot.
Mathurin had seventeen points, most of them going the line, mostly ’cause Nembhard wasn’t allowed, like trying to give him the shot.
basically seemed like he fouled him almost every time he started driving to the rim, so he ended up twelve of fifteen from the line.
basically seemed like he fouled him almost every time he started driving to the rim, so he ended up twelve of fifteen from the line.
but got to his seventeen points, and so, you know, made some contributions there.
but got to his seventeen points, and so, you know, made some contributions there.
But, again, as the season winding is, is winding down, the Pacers are trying to make things, competitive while they have the opportunity to do so.
But, again, as the season winding is, is winding down, the Pacers are trying to make things, competitive while they have the opportunity to do so.
And after a season that’s been, disheartening on a lot of levels, it’s at least made it interest– made it entertaining basketball down the stretch here.
And after a season that’s been, disheartening on a lot of levels, it’s at least made it interest– made it entertaining basketball down the stretch here.
Thanks, everybody.
Thanks, everybody.