Pacers
Thunder survive 20-point hole, beat Pacers 114-112 in overtime
Oklahoma City erased a 20-point Indiana lead and needed overtime to beat the Pacers 114-112 in a preseason game at Paycom Center. The Thunder outscored Indiana 14-12 in the extra period after the teams were tied 100-100 through regulation. Both clubs sit at 0-0 with the result carrying no regular-season weight.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 8 d ago01The story of the nightPacers build it, Thunder erase itIndiana opened with a 33-25 first quarter and pushed its lead to 20 points, part of 14 lead changes on the night.
Indiana opened with a 33-25 first quarter and pushed its lead to 20 points, part of 14 lead changes on the night. Oklahoma City answered with a 34-point second quarter to trail just 61-59 at the half, then outscored the Pacers 26-23 in the third to go up 85-84. The fourth quarter was dead even at 15-16, leaving the game tied 100-100 after regulation. In overtime, the Thunder closed it out 14-12 for the win.
02Haliburton and McCain carry the scoringTyrese Haliburton led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4 of 6 from three, in just 18…
Tyrese Haliburton led all scorers with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4 of 6 from three, in just 18 minutes for Indiana. Ivica Zubac added 13 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists on 6-of-7 shooting. For Oklahoma City, bench guard Jared McCain scored 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting with 6 made threes, and Jalen Williams added 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was efficient but limited, going 5 of 6 from the field for 15 points with 6 assists in 23.3 minutes.
03Turnovers decided it, not the paint or the arcIndiana won the rebounding battle 69-48 and the paint 48-44, and both teams made 14 threes.
Indiana won the rebounding battle 69-48 and the paint 48-44, and both teams made 14 threes. But the Pacers turned it over 27 times against just 16 for Oklahoma City, and the Thunder turned that into 33 points off turnovers compared to Indiana's 17. Oklahoma City also had 14 steals to Indiana's 9. Shooting splits favored the home team too: 47.8% from the field for the Thunder against 43.0% for the Pacers, with Oklahoma City also hitting more free throws, 14 of 21 to 12 of 17.
04Deep benches do the heavy liftingBoth rotations went deep, typical of the preseason slate.
Both rotations went deep, typical of the preseason slate. Oklahoma City's bench outscored Indiana's, 70-57, with McCain's 20 points leading the way and Aday Mara adding 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting with 3 blocks off the bench. Indiana got double-digit bench scoring from Jay Huff (11 points, 3-of-5 from three) and Kobe Brown (10 points). Pascal Siakam struggled for the Pacers, going 2 of 11 from the field for 6 points in 20.6 minutes.
05No standings stakes, just repsThis was a preseason game, so the result leaves both teams at 0-0 with no bearing on seeding or the regular-season race.
This was a preseason game, so the result leaves both teams at 0-0 with no bearing on seeding or the regular-season race. For Indiana, the takeaways are Haliburton's efficient scoring night and the turnover problem that let a 20-point lead slip away. For Oklahoma City, the comeback showcased bench depth from McCain and Mara, while Gilgeous-Alexander's limited minutes point to a cautious preseason workload before the games start counting.
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