Game ID: 22401011
Brooklyn Nets @ Indiana Pacers
Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
IND 23 19 25 24 14 105BKN 28 24 19 20 8 99
BKN @ IND ScoutingBKN @ IND 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 3/14 · 2 days' restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 58 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 3/11 after 3, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK Mathurin back 3/08 after 4, 28 min since (104% of 27)
BACK Que. Jackson back 3/08 after 23, 14 min since (101% of 14)
NEW Nesmith 26 to 31 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Isa. Jackson missed 59 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 3/11, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 3/11 after 3, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK Mathurin back 3/08 after 4, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Que. Jackson back 3/08 after 23, 10 min since (71% of 14)
IND availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 60 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 3 since 3/11, returns tonight: 35 min (233% of 15)
BACK Haliburton back 3/11 after 3, 33 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Mathurin back 3/08 after 4, 22 min since (83% of 27)
BACK Que. Jackson back 3/08 after 23, 10 min since (71% of 14)
IND availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 61 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 3/11 after 3, 33 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Walker back 3/17 after 3, 35 min since (233% of 15)
IND availability going into 3/20 · back-to-backOUT Haliburton missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 62 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Walker back 3/17 after 3, 21 min since (137% of 15)
NEW Nesmith 26 to 33 min over the last 4
IND availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Haliburton missed 3 since 3/17, returns tonight: 32 min (95% of 34)
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 63 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Walker back 3/17 after 3, 17 min since (113% of 15)
NEW Nesmith 26 to 33 min over the last 4
NEW Toppin 20 to 26 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 64 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 3/22 after 3, 32 min since (95% of 34)
BACK Walker back 3/17 after 3, 14 min since (96% of 15)
NEW Nesmith 26 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Toppin 20 to 25 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Isa. Jackson missed 65 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 3/22 after 3, 31 min since (91% of 34)
BACK Walker back 3/17 after 3, 12 min since (79% of 15)
NEW Toppin 20 to 25 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 3/27 · back-to-backOUT Isa. Jackson missed 66 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Haliburton back 3/22 after 3, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BKN availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Evbuomwan missed 7 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Lewis missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Russell back 3/04 after 5, 27 min since (109% of 25)
BACK Clowney back 3/08 after 15, 19 min since (85% of 23)
BACK Beekman back 3/10 after 3, 9 min since (65% of 14)
BKN availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Evbuomwan missed 8 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Lewis missed 5 since 3/06, returns tonight: 16 min (113% of 14)
OUT Beekman missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 19 min (136% of 14)
OUT Whitehead missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Clowney back 3/08 after 15, 19 min since (85% of 23)
NEW Williams 24 to 30 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 3/16 · back-to-backOUT Evbuomwan missed 9 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Lewis back 3/15 after 5, 16 min since (113% of 14)
BACK Beekman back 3/10 after 3, 14 min since (100% of 14)
NEW Williams 24 to 32 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Evbuomwan missed 10 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 3 since 3/13, returns tonight: 18 min (78% of 23)
OUT Etienne missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Lewis back 3/15 after 5, 19 min since (135% of 14)
BACK Beekman back 3/10 after 3, 14 min since (103% of 14)
NEW Williams 24 to 31 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Evbuomwan missed 11 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 8 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 8 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Clowney back 3/18 after 3, 18 min since (78% of 23)
BACK Lewis back 3/15 after 5, 19 min since (135% of 14)
BACK Beekman back 3/15 after 2, 17 min since (123% of 14)
NEW Williams 24 to 31 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Evbuomwan missed 12 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 9 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Beekman missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 9 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Clowney back 3/18 after 3, 18 min since (81% of 23)
BACK Lewis back 3/15 after 5, 20 min since (140% of 14)
NEW Williams 24 to 32 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Evbuomwan missed 13 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 10 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Beekman missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 10 since 3/06, out tonight
BACK Clowney back 3/18 after 3, 21 min since (91% of 23)
BACK Lewis back 3/15 after 5, 19 min since (134% of 14)
NEW Williams 24 to 32 min over the last 3
BKN availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 6 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Russell missed 2 since 3/22, returns tonight: 25 min (102% of 25)
OUT Evbuomwan missed 14 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 11 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Beekman missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 11 since 3/06, returns tonight: 25 min (206% of 12)
BACK Clowney back 3/18 after 3, 21 min since (93% of 23)
NEW Martin 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Watford 21 to 26 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 3/28 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 7 since 3/15, not on tonight's roster
OUT Evbuomwan missed 15 since 2/28, returns tonight: 15 min (62% of 24)
OUT Etienne missed 12 since 3/06, returns tonight: 10 min (45% of 22)
OUT Beekman missed 5 since 3/18, returns tonight: 7 min (49% of 14)
BACK Russell back 3/26 after 2, 25 min since (102% of 25)
BACK Clowney back 3/18 after 3, 22 min since (99% of 23)
BACK Whitehead back 3/26 after 11, 25 min since (206% of 12)
NEW Watford 21 to 26 min over the last 5
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 123 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Nesmith at 18 a game. Without Haliburton (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (62 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 19 and Williams at 14 a game. Without Thomas (3 straight), Evbuomwan (11 straight), Etienne (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 112 a night to Indiana's 120. Call it Indiana 116, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
3/14 @ PHI 112-100 — IND notes
IND won 112-100. IND shot 49% (44 of 89) to PHI's 45%, 10 of 35 from three. Siakam led with 27 (12 of 20, 1 of 4 from three); Turner added 18, Nesmith 16. The hinge was Q4, 34-25: a lead of 3 became 12, and the lead reached 16. IND trailed 47-51 at the half and won the second half 65-49. Siakam was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
3/15 @ MIL 119-126 — IND notes
IND lost 119-126. IND took 17 more shots (96 to 79), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to MIL's 54%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIL's 26. The glass went 32-45 against them. Nesmith led with 30 (11 of 16, 6 of 7 from three); Siakam added 26, Haliburton 24. Q4 was theirs, 37-26, the deficit cut from 18 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 100-82 against them. McConnell's -34 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 @ MIN 132-130 — IND notes
IND won 132-130 in 1 overtime. IND shot 49% (48 of 97) to MIN's 45%, 17 of 37 from three, and got to the line 23 times to MIN's 36. IND turned it over 20 times to MIN's 14, and MIN turned those into 11 steals. Toppin led with 34 (12 of 19, 7 of 10 from three); Mathurin added 22, Walker 13. The hinge was Q2, 30-16: from level to 14 ahead.
3/19 vs DAL 135-131 — IND notes
IND won 135-131. IND shot 55% (45 of 82) to DAL's 55%, 16 of 35 from three. Siakam led with 29 (11 of 16, 3 of 4 from three); Mathurin added 23, Nembhard 22. The hinge was Q1, 33-21: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 16.
3/20 vs BKN 105-99 — IND notes
IND won 105-99 in 1 overtime. IND shot 43% (35 of 81) to BKN's 36%, 8 of 31 from three, and went to the line 31 times to BKN's 18 — 27 points from the stripe to their 13. IND turned it over 22 times to BKN's 16, and BKN turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 57-47 for them. Mathurin led with 28 (10 of 17, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Turner added 23, Nesmith 14. The hinge was Q3, 25-19: the deficit went from 10 to 4. IND trailed 42-52 at the half and won the second half 63-47. Mathurin was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/22 vs BKN — 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 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Nesmith at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Haliburton (3 straight), Isa. Jackson (63 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 20 and Williams at 16 a game. Without Thomas (4 straight), Evbuomwan (12 straight), Etienne (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the line, where Indiana takes 24 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 18 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 15 times a game to Brooklyn's 11. Call it Indiana 116, Brooklyn 110.
3/24 vs MIN — 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 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Isa. Jackson (64 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 29 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Randle at 17 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 111 a night to Indiana's 118. Call it Minnesota 117, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
3/26 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mathurin at 19 and Siakam at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Isa. Jackson (65 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Reddish (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 113 a night to the Lakers' 120. Call it Indiana 118, the Lakers 112.
3/27 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sarr at 18 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Coulibaly (9 straight), Brogdon (18 straight), Holmes (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mathurin at 20 and Haliburton at 19 a game. Without Isa. Jackson (66 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-7 and the defense, Indiana allowing 111 a night to Washington's 119. Call it Indiana 117, Washington 112.
3/13 @ CHI 110-116 — BKN notes
BKN lost 110-116. BKN shot 45% (43 of 96) to CHI's 46%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CHI's 26. Thomas led with 24 (8 of 23, 3 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Martin added 19, Claxton 18. Q3 was theirs, 27-20, but the other 3 periods went 96-83 against them. They led by as many as 12.
3/15 vs BOS 113-115 — BKN notes
BKN lost 113-115. BKN shot 47% (42 of 90) to BOS's 52%, 20 of 46 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 19. C. Johnson led with 23 (9 of 19, 2 of 8 from three); K. Johnson added 21, Wilson 15. Q3 was theirs, 30-23, the deficit cut from 12 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 92-83 against them. Wilson's -19 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs ATL 122-114 — BKN notes
BKN won 122-114. BKN shot 48% (43 of 90) to ATL's 47%, 17 of 35 from three. C. Johnson led with 28 (7 of 16, 4 of 8 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); K. Johnson added 22, Martin 16. The hinge was Q4, 31-22: BKN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8. BKN trailed 56-62 at the half and won the second half 66-52. Sharpe was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/18 @ BOS 96-104 — BKN notes
BKN lost 96-104. BKN took 9 more shots (88 to 79), but shot 41% to BOS's 44%, 13 of 45 from three. BKN turned it over 8 times to BOS's 13. Russell led with 18 (6 of 18, 4 of 13 from three); Williams added 15, K. Johnson 13. Q1 was theirs, 26-21, but the other 3 periods went 83-70 against them.
3/20 @ IND 99-105 — BKN notes
BKN lost 99-105 in 1 overtime. BKN took 20 more shots (101 to 81), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to IND's 43%, 14 of 50 from three, and got to the line 18 times to IND's 31. BKN turned it over 16 times to IND's 22. The glass went 47-57 against them. Williams led with 22 (8 of 15, 6 of 12 from three); Russell added 22, Watford 15. Q1 was theirs, 28-23, but the other 4 periods went 82-71 against them. They led by as many as 11. Johnson's -14 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/22 @ IND — 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 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Nesmith at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Haliburton (3 straight), Isa. Jackson (63 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 20 and Williams at 16 a game. Without Thomas (4 straight), Evbuomwan (12 straight), Etienne (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the line, where Indiana takes 24 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 18 and the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 15 times a game to Brooklyn's 11. Call it Indiana 116, Brooklyn 110.
3/24 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 20 and Russell at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Thomas (5 straight), Evbuomwan (13 straight), Etienne (10 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 128, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Washington at 27 and Dinwiddie at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Davis (18 straight), Lively II (31 straight), Gafford (17 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 109 a night to Dallas's 128 and the line, where Dallas takes 25 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 18. Call it Brooklyn 115, Dallas 112, Dallas keeping it close.
3/26 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 19 and Watford at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Thomas (6 straight), Russell (2 straight), Evbuomwan (14 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 116, shooting 42 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Poeltl at 19 and Barnes at 19 a game. Without Rhoden (6 straight), Boucher (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Brooklyn 111, Toronto 108, Toronto keeping it close.
3/28 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 111, shooting 41 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 16 and Russell at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Thomas (7 straight), Evbuomwan (15 straight), Etienne (12 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-10 a night and Brooklyn minus-8 and the arc, the Clippers at 46 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it the Clippers 113, Brooklyn 105.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BKNDR D. Russell
DS D. Sharpe
JW J. Wilson
KJ K. Johnson
ML M. Lewis
NC N. Claxton
NC N. Clowney
TM T. Martin
TW T. Watford
ZW Z. Williams
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
QJ Q. Jackson
TB T. Bryant
TM T. McConnell
BKN/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
Bennedict Mathurin scores 28 and leads Pacers to a 105-99 overtime victory over the Nets
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Bennedict Mathurin scored six of his 28 points in overtime and the Indiana Pacers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 105-99 on Thursday night.
Mathurin added a career-high 16 rebounds for the Pacers. Myles Turner added 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.
Ziaire Williams and D’Angelo Russell each scored 22 points for Brooklyn.
Indiana trailed 52-42 at halftime and outscored the Nets by four points in the third quarter and six in the fourth to force overtime tied at 91.
In overtime, Mathurin shot 2 for 3 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line.
Takeaways Nets: Brooklyn’s free-fall continued with the team's 12th loss in 14 games. Brooklyn led 52-42 at halftime but scored just 39 points in the second half and was outscored 14-8 in overtime.
Pacers: Indiana came through in the clutch without its star point guard and now has won five of six. Tyrese Haliburton missed the game with lower back soreness. It was his third straight missed game, and the Pacers have won them all.
Key moment Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin made three free throws with 14 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 91, leading to overtime.
Key stat The Pacers outscored the Nets by 14 points at the free throw line, making 27. The Nets hits 13.
Up next The teams meet again on Saturday, in Indianapolis.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .