Game ID: 22300863
Indiana Pacers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Friday, March 1, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 48 29 31 21 129IND 26 30 16 30 102
IND @ NOP ScoutingIND @ 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.
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)
NOP availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Daniels missed 12 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 5 min (28% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 5 min (34% of 14)
BACK McCollum back 2/28 after 2, 28 min since (85% of 33)
BACK Alvarado back 3/01 after 3, 22 min since (118% of 18)
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)
IND availability going into 3/10 · 2 days' restBACK Nesmith back 3/01 after 4, 25 min since (88% of 29)
BACK Sheppard back 3/05 after 2, 20 min since (130% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 3/01 after 2, 12 min since (97% of 13)
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.
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 129-102 — NOP notes
NOP won 129-102. NOP shot 56% (48 of 86) to IND's 42%, 15 of 32 from three, and went to the line 26 times to IND's 18 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. Ingram led with 34 (13 of 21, 7 of 9 at the line); Murphy III added 28, Valančiūnas 15. The hinge was Q1, 48-26: from level to 22 ahead, and the lead reached 36. Ingram was the night's best plus/minus at +45.
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.
3/13 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murphy III at 22 and Ingram at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Daniels (12 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 22 and Allen at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mitchell (7 straight), Strus (5 straight), Eva. Mobley (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Cleveland's 35 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5. Call it New Orleans 116, Cleveland 107.
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 102-129 — IND notes
IND lost 102-129. IND took 9 more shots (95 to 86), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to NOP's 56%, 10 of 32 from three, and got to the line 18 times to NOP's 26. Mathurin led with 13 (4 of 10, 1 of 3 from three); Jackson added 13, Siakam 12. Q4 was theirs, 30-21, the deficit cut from 36 to 27, but the other 3 periods went 108-72 against them. Siakam's -43 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
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.
3/10 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 99, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and F. Wagner at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Mathurin at 15 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 99 a night to Indiana's 119 and the glass, where Orlando has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-1. Call it Orlando 115, Indiana 111, Indiana keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BM B. Mathurin
IJ I. Jackson
JJ J. Johnson
JS J. Smith
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
OT O. Tshiebwe
PS P. Siakam
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
CZ C. Zeller
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
JR J. Robinson-Earl
JV J. Valančiūnas
LN L. Nance Jr.
MR M. Ryan
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
IND/NOP 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
Pelicans tie franchise record with 48-point 1st quarter, rout Pacers 129-102
NEW ORLEANS -- — Brandon Ingram scored 19 of his 34 points in New Orleans’ franchise record-tying 48-point first quarter and the Pelicans beat the Indiana Pacers 129-102 on Friday night to split a home-and-home set.
Coming off a 123-114 loss in Indianapolis on Wednesday night, the Pelicans were 20 of 22 from the field in the first quarter in racing to a 48-26 lead.
“I don’t know how to describe it,” Ingram said. “I (saw) some shots go in, and I just kept shooting it. It felt good coming off my fingertips. I had space to operate a little bit and got to my mid-range. I just felt good with the ball in my hand.”
The 90.9% shooting was the highest field-goal percentage by any team in a quarter this season and the highest percentage in a first quarter by any team since Dallas shot 94% in a 2014 game against Utah.
“B.I. was incredible,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “It was just fun to watch him play with that force, with that pace, with the confidence that he had on the floor. His teammates all rallied behind him. Collectively, it was a great rebound game for us … to come home, get a little rest and get this win.”
Trey Murphy III added 28 points, hitting 6 of 12 3-pointers, another solid shooting performance after a string of subpar offensive outings since the All-Star break.
“It’s just knowing that I’m a complete basketball player,” Murphy said. “I don’t want to be a one-trick pony. I want to make sure I have a lot of different facets to my game. I knew (my shooting) eventually was going to come back. You put the work in and trust your work, and you’re going to get to where you’re supposed to be.”
Ingram, who also had seven assists, sparked the early spree with 9-of-11 shooting. Murphy made a 25-footer from the left wing early in the second to make it 57-26.
Just as Indiana set the tone in its win on Wednesday night by jumping out to a 40-24 first-quarter lead, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle pointed to the Pelicans’ 48-point first period as a mountain too high to overcome.
“The Pelicans put up historic numbers, and we did not get a defensive rebound (in the first quarter),” Carlisle said. “I have not heard of that happening.”
After being outrebounded 50-40 by the Pacers on Wednesday, New Orleans held a 47-43 edge on the boards on Friday, including 11-2 in the first quarter.
In addition to their hot shooting, the Pelicans played suffocating defense against the highest-scoring team in the NBA, holding the Pacers to 42.6% shooting and 21 points below their 123-point-per-game average.
Pelicans defensive specialist Herb Jones neutralized Tyrese Haliburton , holding the All-Star guard scoreless for the first time since November 2021. Haliburton was 0 for 7 from the field in 23 minutes.
“That’s Herb Jones,” Ingram said. “He told me he didn’t want me to switch at all today. He wanted to keep his matchup. He took it personal. A lot of credit to him and his defense.”
Isaiah Jackson and Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 13 points each. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner had 12 each.
Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and nine rebounds for New Orleans, and CJ McCollum added 14 points.
The Pacers held New Orleans scoreless for over five minutes during a 23-3 run in the second period that cut the deficit to 60-49. But the Pelicans regained their footing with a 17-7 run to close out the quarter, capped by Murphy’s deep 3 at the buzzer for a 77-56 lead. Murphy had 17 of his 23 first-half points in the second quarter, making 4 of 7 from long range.
Green said he loved how the Pelicans bounced back following Wednesday’s loss in which the Pelicans looked fatigued after having arrived in Indianapolis at 7:30 a.m. on game day because of mechanical problems with their charter jet.
“We have competitors on this team,” Green said. “We didn’t get a great start (on Wednesday) and guys were a little fatigued. We wanted to get home, get some rest, and we knew we could get after them. That’s what we did tonight.”