The Pacers closed out their road schedule in Brooklyn as they took on a depleted Nets team on Thursday. Nineteen players between both teams were out for Thursday’s matchup as the Pacers deployed their 47th unique starting lineup this season – the second most starting lineups in the NBA. Indiana defeated the Nets soundly, 123-94, behind Obi Toppin’s season-high 26 points and Micah Potter’s double-double. The victory marks the Pacers’ 19th win this season. Despite all of the injury flux, Indiana had a strong start. Toppin scored 12 points off the Indiana bench in just six minutes as the Pacers closed the first quarter on a 27-6 run. Indiana took a 17-point advantage into the second quarter and led the Nets after one, 31-14. Brooklyn’s 14 points in the first frame marked the lowest first quarter total by a Pacers opponent all season. Indiana had doubled up Brooklyn by the seven-minute mark of the second period, 40-20, and the Pacers didn’t look back. The Nets struggled to hit shots – they hit just 31 percent of their shots from the floor, including 21 percent from deep. The Pacers were in-sync and on-rhythm throughout the first half, and knocked down 52 percent of their looks. Indiana was strong in the paint, and scored 46 paint points while grabbing 38 first-half rebounds. Toppin remained Indiana’s top scorer, and had 14 points and seven rebounds entering halftime. Toppin was one of three Pacers to grab seven or more rebounds – Potter (nine) and Jarace Walker (eight) also hit the boards hard. No Nets reached double figures in the first half, and E.J. Liddell led Brooklyn with eight points. The Pacers entered the halftime break with a 26-point advantage, 63-37. Brooklyn’s 37 points are the fewest Indiana has allowed in the first half this season by a margin of five points. The Nets showed some fight in the third quarter, and whittled the lead down to 18 points near the midpoint of the period. Ethan Thompson responded with a swat that he tossed down the court to a waiting Toppin, who dropped it in the bucket for two. Toppin showed off his own passing skills later in the third as he caught a hit-ahead pass from Quenton Jackson, but instead of throwing down a fastbreak dunk, bounced the ball behind himself back to Jackson. Jackson completed the slam, and Indiana closed the third quarter leading by 26 points, 98-72. The Pacers led by 30 points early in the fourth quarter, and closed out the Nets without much trouble, 123-94. Indiana led by as many as 32 points in the effort, and grabbed a new season-high 66 rebounds. Toppin and Liddell each scored 26 points to lead their respective teams. Toppin also notched nine rebounds and three assists for the Pacers. Seven Pacers reached double-figure scoring totals, including Potter, who contributed an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double. The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for their final two games of the year as they host Philadelphia on Friday and Detroit on Sunday to conclude the regular season. Inside the Numbers Indiana grabbed 38 rebounds in the first half. That’s more rebounds than they’ve grabbed in 18 total games this season. The Pacers recorded a season-high 66 rebounds, surpassing their previous season-high of 56 rebounds set against Brooklyn in November. Obi Toppin recorded a season-high 26 points. Indiana recorded 40+ assists for the second time this season with 43 assists in Brooklyn. About The Author troyderengowski61@gmail.com See author's posts Post navigation PACERS GAME PREVIEW VS. MINNESOTA
