Indiana beat Brooklyn 136-109 after a sluggish first quarter, led by as many as 27 and moved to 2-1 and sixth in the East. Tyrese Haliburton set the pace while Jay Huff filled in when Ivica Zubac left with a left ankle sprain.
How the game turned
Brooklyn led after the first quarter, 26-24, and an 8-0 Nets run had Indiana chasing. The Pacers took the second quarter 41-30, then the third 37-24. The decisive stretch was a 12-0 run midway through the third that moved the score from 88-74 to 100-74. Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files noted Indiana was 3 for 11 from three in the first quarter and finished with 21 threes. The ball moved, the shots found open feet, and the lead reached 27. Rick Carlisle said afterward, per Agness, that taking care of the ball in the second half helped most.
Grades from the box score
Haliburton earns an A: 24 points on 8-13 shooting, 10 assists, two turnovers, and a team-best +29. Huff earns an A-: 5-6 from the floor, three blocks, and +14 after Zubac went down. Nembhard gets a B+ for 14 points with four threes in six tries, though his three turnovers were the most on the team. Pascal Siakam scored 21 with seven rebounds and six assists, and Obi Toppin added 16 off the bench. Jarace Walker was +24 in 19 minutes. Even the lowest plus-minus on the roster was positive: Quenton Jackson at +2.
What it changes in Milwaukee
Indiana is 2-1 and sixth in the East, a game ahead of the 11th seed. Zubac's x-rays on his left ankle were negative, Carlisle said, but there is swelling and Agness reported he is unlikely to play. Milwaukee is 0-3 and playing the second night of a back-to-back. Indiana had one day of rest. That edge matters less than the template: the Pacers are at their best when the extra pass beats the first look. Five games follow in eight days, starting with the 76ers on Wednesday.
What was the score of the Pacers-Nets game?
Indiana won 136-109 at Brooklyn on October 25. The Pacers led by as many as 27.
Is Ivica Zubac playing against the Bucks?
Zubac is listed day-to-day with a left ankle sprain. Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files reported that he is unlikely to play after negative x-rays and some swelling.
