Timberwolves
Pacers' bench outscores Minnesota's 77-54 in preseason comeback win
The Pacers trailed by four at halftime before outscoring Minnesota 38-26 in the third quarter to win 123-112 in preseason play at Hilton Coliseum. Indiana leaned on a 77-54 bench scoring edge and a 50-28 advantage in the paint. It is an exhibition game with both teams at 0-0, so it carries no standings weight, but it offers an early look at each team's depth.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 14 d ago01The story of the nightThe third quarter flipped itMinnesota led 65-61 at halftime after winning the second quarter 38-29.
Minnesota led 65-61 at halftime after winning the second quarter 38-29. Indiana answered with a 38-26 third quarter to go up 99-91 entering the fourth, then closed it out 24-21 down the stretch for the 123-112 final. The Timberwolves led by as many as 9 and the Pacers by as many as 13, with seven lead changes in the game.
02Nesmith and Edwards led the wayAaron Nesmith scored 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three, in just 15.8 minutes for Indiana.
Aaron Nesmith scored 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three, in just 15.8 minutes for Indiana. Jay Huff added 16 off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting. For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards matched Nesmith with 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 4-of-5 from three, and Jaden McDaniels had 16 on 6-of-10. LaMelo Ball posted 14 points and 7 assists but turned it over 5 times.
03Won in the paint and off the benchIndiana shot 53.3% from the field to Minnesota's 43.5% and scored 50 points in the paint to the Timberwolves' 28.
Indiana shot 53.3% from the field to Minnesota's 43.5% and scored 50 points in the paint to the Timberwolves' 28. The Pacers' bench outscored Minnesota's reserves 77-54, with Huff, Ben Sheppard (13 points) and Obi Toppin (10 points) all contributing. Indiana also moved the ball better, finishing with 39 assists to Minnesota's 22, even though the Timberwolves out-shot them from three, 19-of-41 to 17-of-33.
04A preseason look at the depth chartsBoth teams sit at 0-0, so the result has no bearing on the standings — this was a preseason tune-up played at Hilton…
Both teams sit at 0-0, so the result has no bearing on the standings — this was a preseason tune-up played at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. For Indiana, the bench performances from Huff, Sheppard, Toppin and Jarace Walker (7 points, 10 assists) stand out heading into the regular season. For Minnesota, Edwards and McDaniels looked sharp, but reserves like Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland (10 points each) will be fighting for rotation minutes.
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