Game ID: 22300843
New Orleans Pelicans @ Indiana Pacers
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 40 24 32 27 123NOP 24 29 33 28 114
IND vs NOP ScoutingIND vs NOP 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 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Smith missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
IND availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Smith missed 3 since 2/10, out tonight
IND availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Smith missed 4 since 2/10, returns tonight: 15 min (95% of 16)
NEW Nembhard 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Jackson 13 to 19 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT Nesmith missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Smith back 2/25 after 4, 15 min since (95% of 16)
NEW Nembhard 26 to 33 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Smith back 2/25 after 4, 15 min since (92% of 16)
NEW Nembhard 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Jackson 13 to 18 min over the last 4
IND availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 4 since 2/22, returns tonight: 21 min (72% of 29)
OUT Jackson missed 2 since 2/26, returns tonight: 18 min (141% of 13)
BACK Smith back 2/25 after 4, 16 min since (100% of 16)
NEW Mathurin 26 to 34 min over the last 4
IND availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restBACK Nesmith back 3/01 after 4, 21 min since (72% of 29)
BACK Smith back 2/25 after 4, 15 min since (92% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 3/01 after 2, 18 min since (141% of 13)
NEW Mathurin 26 to 31 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 22 min (141% of 16)
BACK Nesmith back 3/01 after 4, 24 min since (84% of 29)
BACK Smith back 2/25 after 4, 14 min since (89% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 3/01 after 2, 18 min since (141% of 13)
IND availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson missed 2 since 3/03, returns tonight: 7 min (54% of 13)
BACK Nesmith back 3/01 after 4, 23 min since (82% of 29)
BACK Sheppard back 3/05 after 2, 22 min since (141% of 16)
NOP availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Daniels missed 3 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 17 min (102% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 14)
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 18 min since (95% of 19)
NOP availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Daniels missed 4 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 19 min since (97% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 17 min since (102% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Ingram missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 39 min (117% of 33)
OUT Daniels missed 5 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 2/10 after 2, 17 min since (91% of 19)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 20 min since (119% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/10 after 39, 4 min since (26% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 39 min since (117% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (109% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (80% of 14)
NOP availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT McCollum missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 34 min (105% of 33)
OUT Daniels missed 7 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 36 min since (109% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (107% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 8 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 25 min (135% of 18)
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 33)
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 33)
BACK Hawkins back 2/22 after 2, 18 min since (107% of 17)
BACK Ryan back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
NEW Jones 31 to 37 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/05 · 3 days' restOUT Daniels missed 9 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 33 min since (99% of 33)
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 30 min since (91% of 33)
BACK Alvarado back 3/01 after 3, 25 min since (135% of 18)
NOP availability going into 3/08 · 2 days' restOUT Daniels missed 10 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Ingram back 2/25 after 2, 31 min since (95% of 33)
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 27 min since (83% of 33)
BACK Alvarado back 3/01 after 3, 24 min since (132% of 18)
NEW Marshall 19 to 25 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Daniels missed 11 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 27 min since (83% of 33)
BACK Alvarado back 3/01 after 3, 23 min since (126% of 18)
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 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Turner at 21 and Siakam at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Nesmith (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 21 a game. Without McCollum (2 straight), Daniels (7 straight), Alvarado (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Indiana minus-5 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 109 a night to Indiana's 118. Call it Indiana 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/14 @ TOR 127-125 — IND notes
IND won 127-125. IND shot 48% (47 of 97) to TOR's 51%, 17 of 41 from three. IND turned it over 8 times to TOR's 15. The glass went 39-56 against them. Siakam led with 23 (8 of 17, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Haliburton added 21, Jackson 15. The hinge was Q3, 36-32: the deficit went from 6 to 2. IND trailed 65-71 at the half and won the second half 62-54. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
2/22 vs DET 129-115 — IND notes
IND won 129-115. IND shot 53% (50 of 94) to DET's 53%, 13 of 30 from three. Haliburton led with 25 (10 of 18, 4 of 10 from three); Siakam added 20, McConnell 16. The hinge was Q1, 42-25: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Toppin was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/25 vs DAL 133-111 — IND notes
IND won 133-111. IND shot 56% (52 of 93) to DAL's 47%, 14 of 36 from three. Turner led with 33 (10 of 15, 2 of 7 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Haliburton added 17, Nembhard 15. The hinge was Q4, 33-20: a lead of 9 became 22. Toppin was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/26 vs TOR 122-130 — IND notes
IND lost 122-130. IND shot 46% (46 of 100) to TOR's 55%, 13 of 42 from three, and went to the line 23 times to TOR's 17 — 17 points from the stripe to their 12. Mathurin led with 34 (11 of 15, 5 of 8 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Siakam added 27, Turner 16. Q3 was theirs, 31-29, the deficit cut from 5 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 101-91 against them. Turner's -18 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 vs NOP 123-114 — IND notes
IND won 123-114. IND shot 49% (50 of 102) to NOP's 47%, 14 of 38 from three, and got to the line 9 times to NOP's 23. The glass went 50-40 for them. Siakam led with 24 (11 of 18, 0 of 3 from three); Haliburton added 17, Mathurin 16. The hinge was Q1, 40-24: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 20.
3/01 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Daniels (8 straight), Alvarado (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Mathurin at 20 a game. Without Nesmith (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 119 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 13 times a game to Indiana's 10. Call it New Orleans 118, Indiana 117, Indiana keeping it close.
3/03 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 24 and Wembanyama at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Mathurin at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 43 percent from three to Indiana's 36 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 12. Call it Indiana 121, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.
3/05 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Irving at 27 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Turner at 18 a game. Without Sheppard (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the arc, Dallas at 37 percent from three to Indiana's 32 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-2 a night and Dallas minus-3. Call it Dallas 121, Indiana 120, Indiana keeping it close.
3/07 vs MIN — 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 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Mathurin at 19 a game. One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 24 and Towns at 16 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 107 a night to Indiana's 122 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Indiana's 19. Call it Indiana 116, Minnesota 115, Minnesota keeping it close.
2/22 vs HOU 127-105 — NOP notes
NOP won 127-105. NOP shot 52% (50 of 96) to HOU's 44%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 18 times to HOU's 28. NOP turned it over 13 times to HOU's 22. McCollum led with 28 (11 of 22, 4 of 10 from three); Williamson added 27, Valančiūnas 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-23: a lead of 4 became 13, and the lead reached 29. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
2/23 vs MIA 95-106 — NOP notes
NOP lost 95-106. NOP took 22 more shots (104 to 82), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 38% to MIA's 46%, 7 of 32 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIA's 25. Williamson led with 23 (9 of 22, 5 of 6 at the line); Jones added 19, Hawkins 14. Q2 was theirs, 34-27, the deficit cut from 7 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 79-61 against them. Williamson's -23 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 vs CHI 106-114 — NOP notes
NOP lost 106-114. NOP shot 45% (40 of 88) to CHI's 43%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 14 times to CHI's 21. NOP turned it over 19 times to CHI's 9, and CHI turned those into 12 steals. Ingram led with 22 (7 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Williamson added 19, Jones 15. Q2 was theirs, 39-29, turning a 7-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 85-67 against them. They led by as many as 12. Nance Jr.'s -24 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/27 @ NYK 115-92 — NOP notes
NOP won 115-92. NOP shot 51% (39 of 77) to NYK's 37%, 18 of 34 from three. Murphy III led with 26 (9 of 14, 6 of 11 from three); Ingram added 24, Williamson 21. The hinge was Q4, 41-25: a lead of 7 became 23. Valančiūnas was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
2/28 @ IND 114-123 — NOP notes
NOP lost 114-123. NOP shot 47% (42 of 90) to IND's 49%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 23 times to IND's 9 — 19 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 40-50 against them. Ingram led with 30 (8 of 20, 1 of 5 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); McCollum added 23, Williamson 23. Q2 was theirs, 29-24, the deficit cut from 16 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 99-85 against them. McCollum's -19 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/01 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Daniels (8 straight), Alvarado (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Mathurin at 20 a game. Without Nesmith (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 119 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 13 times a game to Indiana's 10. Call it New Orleans 118, Indiana 117, Indiana keeping it close.
3/05 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barrett at 24 and Quickley at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ingram at 28 and Williamson at 19 a game. Without Daniels (9 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 107 a night to Toronto's 121 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and Toronto minus-4. Call it New Orleans 116, Toronto 114, Toronto keeping it close.
3/08 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 30 and Oubre Jr. at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (2 straight), Embiid (16 straight), Melton (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Murphy III at 22 a game. Without Daniels (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-3 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Philadelphia's 37. Call it New Orleans 115, Philadelphia 113, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/10 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Hunter at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Young (7 straight), Okongwu (9 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 23 and Murphy III at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Daniels (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Atlanta's 35. Call it New Orleans 115, Atlanta 111, Atlanta keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
HJ H. Jones
JH J. Hawkins
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
ZW Z. Williamson
INDAN A. Nembhard
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
JS J. Smith
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
NOP/IND 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
Pacers beat Pelicans 123-114 to open home-and-home set
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Pascal Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton added 17 points and 13 assists — four on late consecutive possessions — and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-114 on Wednesday night.
The teams will complete the home-and-home set Friday night in New Orleans.
“It’s a massively important win,” said Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, alluding to his team’s 34-26 record with 22 games to play. “This time of year, each game has such great meaning.”
Brandon Ingram had 30 points and six rebounds for the Pelicans, who lost for the third time in their past four games. CJ McCollum added 23 points and six rebounds and Zion Williamson also scored 23 points.
Once behind by 20, New Orleans crept within three before Haliburton took over in crunch time. His stepback 3-pointer from the right wing extended the lead to 115-109 with 2:56 to play. Haliburton then assisted on three consecutive baskets by Siakam in the lane, the last a fast-break dunk that put New Orleans behind 121-111 with 1:17 to go, before finding Myles Turner for another basket in the final minute.
“I knew he’s a pass-first kind of guy,” Siakam said about Haliburton, the NBA’ assists leader. “With the gravity that he has on offense, I’m just trying to make the right reads, the right cuts, and I know the ball is going to find me. We’ve got something special. I’m happy to be on the same team.”
Turner finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who shot 49% from the field and made 14 3-pointers. Obi Toppin added 16 points and six rebounds, Bennedict Mathurin scored 16 points, and T.J. McConnell had eight points and nine assists.
Indiana seized control early, finishing a dominant first quarter with a 40-24 advantage. McConnell’s unchallenged learner in the lane pushed the gap to 44-24 and prompted a timeout by New Orleans coach Wille Green early in the second period.
Mixing in some zone defense, the Pelicans slowed Indiana’s scoring over the next 10 minutes and cut the deficit to 64-53 at halftime. A 10-point third quarter from Mathurin helped the Pacers carry a 96-86 lead to the fourth.
“Extremely proud of our group under the circumstances,” Green said. “This was an extremely tough game. For us to get down 20 and battle back against a really good team, this was a growth moment.”
Indiana played without starting wing Aaron Nesmith (sprained right ankle) and reserve forward Doug McDermott (sprained right calf).
Dyson Daniels , one of New Orleans’ top perimeter defenders who was tied for 13th in the league in steals per game, missed his eighth straight because of a meniscus tear. Starting center Jonas Valanciunas , averaging 13.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, played only seven minutes and did not score.
“We knew we were going to have to go small,” Green said. “It allows you to stay in front of them defensively. (Sitting Valanciunas) was the adjustment for us.”