Game ID: 22300158
Utah Jazz @ Indiana Pacers
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 29 38 34 33 134UTA 29 31 38 20 118
IND vs UTA ScoutingIND vs UTA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
IND availability going into 11/01 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 2 since 10/28, returns tonight: 15 min (95% of 16)
OUT Jackson missed 2 since 10/28, returns tonight: 19 min (148% of 13)
OUT Nwora missed 2 since 10/28, returns tonight: 22 min (213% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/03 · 1 day's restBACK Sheppard back 11/01 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 11/01 after 2, 19 min since (148% of 13)
BACK Nwora back 11/01 after 2, 22 min since (213% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/04 · back-to-backBACK Sheppard back 11/01 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 11/01 after 2, 19 min since (148% of 13)
BACK Nwora back 11/01 after 2, 22 min since (213% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/06 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 2 since 11/03, returns tonight: 12 min (77% of 16)
OUT Jackson missed 2 since 11/03, returns tonight: 15 min (120% of 13)
OUT Nwora missed 2 since 11/03, returns tonight: 9 min (87% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restBACK Sheppard back 11/01 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 11/01 after 2, 17 min since (134% of 13)
BACK Nwora back 11/01 after 2, 15 min since (150% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/09 · back-to-backBACK Sheppard back 11/01 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 11/01 after 2, 17 min since (134% of 13)
BACK Nwora back 11/01 after 2, 15 min since (150% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/12 · 2 days' restOUT McConnell missed 2 since 11/08, returns tonight: 17 min (90% of 19)
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nwora missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Jackson back 11/06 after 2, 13 min since (102% of 13)
IND availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nwora missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK McConnell back 11/12 after 2, 17 min since (90% of 19)
BACK Jackson back 11/06 after 2, 13 min since (102% of 13)
IND availability going into 11/19 · 4 days' restOUT Sheppard missed 4 since 11/08, returns tonight: 16 min (105% of 16)
OUT Nwora missed 4 since 11/08, returns tonight: 23 min (230% of 10)
BACK McConnell back 11/12 after 2, 15 min since (80% of 19)
BACK Jackson back 11/06 after 2, 14 min since (114% of 13)
UTA availability going into 11/01 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 3 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 3 since 10/27, out tonight
UTA availability going into 11/02 · back-to-backOUT Hendricks missed 4 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 4 since 10/27, out tonight
UTA availability going into 11/04 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 5 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 5 since 10/27, out tonight
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 11/06 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 6 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 6 since 10/27, out tonight
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 7 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 7 since 10/27, out tonight
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 26 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 8 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 8 since 10/27, out tonight
UTA availability going into 11/14 · 3 days' restOUT Kessler missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 9 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 9 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 11/08, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 11)
UTA availability going into 11/17 · 2 days' restOUT Kessler missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 10 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 10 since 10/27, out tonight
BACK Yurtseven back 11/14 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 11)
UTA availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 11 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 11 since 10/27, out tonight
BACK Yurtseven back 11/14 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Haliburton at 26 and Turner at 17 a game. One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Collins at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Hendricks (7 straight), Sensabaugh (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-7 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Indiana's 14. Call it Indiana 122, Utah 116.
11/01 @ BOS 104-155 — IND notes
IND lost 104-155. IND shot 46% (46 of 101) to BOS's 57%, 5 of 37 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 20 fouls committed. The glass went 31-57 against them. McConnell led with 18 (8 of 13); Nembhard added 14, Toppin 11. Q2 was theirs, 27-31, but the other 3 periods went 124-77 against them. Toppin's -41 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/03 vs CLE 121-116 — IND notes
IND won 121-116. IND shot 52% (45 of 86) to CLE's 52%, 15 of 31 from three. IND turned it over 18 times to CLE's 13, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. Turner led with 27 (9 of 14, 4 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brown added 19, Haliburton 18. The hinge was Q1, 36-26: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Hield was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/04 vs CHA 124-125 — IND notes
IND lost 124-125. IND shot 48% (45 of 93) to CHA's 53%, 22 of 45 from three, and got to the line 16 times to CHA's 23. Haliburton led with 43 (14 of 21, 8 of 12 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Hield added 19, Turner 14. Q3 was theirs, 50-38, turning a 8-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 87-74 against them.
11/06 vs SAS 152-111 — IND notes
IND won 152-111. IND shot 58% (55 of 95) to SAS's 43%, 20 of 38 from three, and got to the line 23 times to SAS's 30. The glass went 49-36 for them. Haliburton led with 23 (9 of 19, 3 of 7 from three); Toppin added 19, Hield 19. The hinge was Q1, 44-28: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 44. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
11/08 vs UTA 134-118 — IND notes
IND won 134-118. IND shot 51% (52 of 101) to UTA's 47%, 13 of 41 from three. IND turned it over 11 times to UTA's 21. Nesmith led with 24 (9 of 13, 4 of 6 from three); Mathurin added 22, Turner 22. The hinge was Q4, 33-20: a lead of 3 became 16. Mathurin was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
11/09 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Turner at 17 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Lillard at 25 and Antetokounmpo at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the line, where Milwaukee takes 30 free throws a game to Indiana's 19 and the glass, where Indiana has been minus-3 a night and Milwaukee minus-10. Call it Indiana 124, Milwaukee 119.
11/12 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Embiid at 32 and Maxey at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without House Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 21 free throws a game; Haliburton at 26 and Turner at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without McConnell (2 straight), Sheppard (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 44 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 107 a night to Indiana's 119. Call it Philadelphia 121, Indiana 116.
11/14 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Embiid at 34 and Maxey at 30 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 132 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Haliburton at 27 and Turner at 19 a game. Without Sheppard (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-10 a night and Indiana minus-3 and the arc, Indiana at 43 percent from three to Philadelphia's 35. Call it Philadelphia 124, Indiana 119.
11/19 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Turner at 19 a game. Without Sheppard (4 straight). 4 days' rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Banchero at 18 and F. Wagner at 18 a game. Without Carter Jr. (7 straight), Fultz (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 106 a night to Indiana's 123 and the arc, Indiana at 40 percent from three to Orlando's 34. Call it Indiana 119, Orlando 114.
11/01 vs MEM 133-109 — UTA notes
UTA won 133-109. UTA shot 54% (47 of 87) to MEM's 36%, 22 of 43 from three, and got to the line 24 times to MEM's 32. UTA turned it over 21 times to MEM's 15, and MEM turned those into 12 steals. Sexton led with 23 (8 of 10, 4 of 6 from three); Clarkson added 20, Markkanen 19. The hinge was Q1, 42-19: from level to 23 ahead, and the lead reached 35. Olynyk was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
11/02 vs ORL 113-115 — UTA notes
UTA lost 113-115. UTA shot 46% (41 of 89) to ORL's 46%, 12 of 33 from three, and got to the line 26 times to ORL's 36. Markkanen led with 22 (9 of 17, 4 of 10 from three); Clarkson added 21, Collins 20. Q1 was theirs, 34-30, but the other 3 periods went 85-79 against them. They led by as many as 10. Kessler's -10 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/04 @ MIN 95-123 — UTA notes
UTA lost 95-123. UTA took 10 more shots (91 to 81), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to MIN's 56%, 12 of 43 from three, and got to the line 17 times to MIN's 31. UTA turned it over 18 times to MIN's 10, and MIN turned those into 10 steals. Markkanen led with 22 (7 of 20, 4 of 11 from three); Collins added 14, Horton-Tucker 14. Q1 was theirs, 27-29, but the other 3 periods went 94-68 against them. Collins's -21 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/06 @ CHI 113-130 — UTA notes
UTA lost 113-130. UTA shot 48% (41 of 86) to CHI's 52%, 16 of 43 from three. UTA turned it over 22 times to CHI's 8, and CHI turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 52-36 for them. Markkanen led with 29 (8 of 15, 5 of 12 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Kessler added 15, Collins 14. Q4 was theirs, 35-32, the deficit cut from 20 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 98-78 against them. George's -15 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/08 @ IND 118-134 — UTA notes
UTA lost 118-134. UTA shot 47% (45 of 96) to IND's 51%, 11 of 27 from three. UTA turned it over 21 times to IND's 11, and IND turned those into 14 steals. Clarkson led with 33 (12 of 26, 1 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Markkanen added 24, Collins 14. Q3 was theirs, 38-34, the deficit cut from 7 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 100-80 against them. They led by as many as 10. Olynyk's -19 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/10 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 26 a game. Without Morant (8 straight), Williams Jr. (2 straight), Jackson (4 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Clarkson at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hendricks (8 straight), Sensabaugh (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-5 a night and Memphis minus-4 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 20 times a game to Memphis's 15. Call it Memphis 116, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.
11/14 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Markkanen at 25 and Clarkson at 19 a game. Without Kessler (2 straight), Hendricks (9 straight), Sensabaugh (9 straight). 3 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Grant at 28 and Sharpe at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simons (8 straight), Henderson (4 straight), Rupert (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 113 a night to Utah's 125 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-4 a night and Portland minus-2. Call it Portland 115, Utah 114, Utah keeping it close.
11/17 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Clarkson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Kessler (3 straight), Hendricks (10 straight), Sensabaugh (10 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Beal at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 114 a night to Utah's 121 and the line, where Phoenix takes 25 free throws a game to Utah's 19. Call it Phoenix 116, Utah 115, Utah keeping it close.
11/19 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Clarkson at 27 and Markkanen at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Kessler (4 straight), Hendricks (11 straight), Sensabaugh (11 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 44 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Beal at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 44 percent from three to Utah's 40. Call it Utah 119, Phoenix 118, Phoenix keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BB B. Brown
BH B. Hield
BM B. Mathurin
JS J. Smith
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
TH T. Haliburton
UTACS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
KO K. Olynyk
LM L. Markkanen
OA O. Agbaji
SF S. Fontecchio
TH T. Horton-Tucker
IND/UTA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Nesmith leads six Pacers in double figures as Indiana pulls away from Utah 134-118
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Indiana used its quick pace and 3-point shooters to draw Utah’s defense away from the basket Wednesday night.
Then the Pacers took full advantage of their size.
Aaron Nesmith scored 24 points, Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner each added 22 and Indiana finished with 74 points in the paint as it pulled away for a 134-118 victory over the Jazz.
“The offense we play, how fast we play, it can be anybody on any given night,” Nesmith said. “It was just one of those nights.”
For the Pacers, there already have been a lot of entertaining nights this season, and television celebrity David Letterman got to witness this one in person.
The NBA's highest-scoring team has won three of four and topped 120 points in four straight games. Indiana had six players reach double figures again including Tyrese Haliburton , who had 16 points — all in the second half — and 13 assists. Jalen Smith posted his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Utah was led by Jordan Clarkson , who had a season-high 33 points. Lauri Markkanen added 24 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their fourth in a row and fell to 0-5 on the road.
But the loss was only part of Utah's story.
Before the game, the Jazz announced starting center Walker Kessler , a first-team all-rookie selection last season, will miss at least two weeks because of an injured left elbow. Doctors recommended Kessler avoid all contact until he is re-evaluated at the end of the rest period, team officials said.
To compensate, first-year coach Will Hardy went with a three-guard lineup, giving two — rookie Keyonte George and Ochai Agbaji — their first starts of the season.
While George had seven points and nine assists, things didn't work out as Hardy expected.
“I thought we started the game well, helping our teammate who was guarding the ball,” Hardy said after Indiana made 13 3-pointers. “Then as the game went on, I thought the threat of the 3-point shot impacted our defense and we started creeping out closer and closer to our own man. We left teammates on an island and the Pacers started throwing it inside.”
Utah's mistakes allowed Indiana to do pretty much anything it wanted offensively.
Turner dominated the middle with a 20-point first half, helping the Pacers erase an early 10-point deficit in taking a 67-60 halftime lead.
It was even worse over the final 13 minutes. Indiana scored the final six points of the third quarter to take a 101-98 lead and extended the margin to 120-106 with 5:49 to play. That was it for the Jazz.
“Pretty much like I said, teammates just found me in the right spot,” Nesmith said. “And it's the offense we play all the time. I just took advantage.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: Finish a four-game trip Friday at Memphis.
Pacers: Head to Philadelphia for back-to-back games Sunday and Tuesday.