The Pacers continued their Las Vegas Summer League slate on Saturday as they took on the Philadelphia 76ers. Indiana fell in overtime, 100-93, after a hard-fought comeback in the second half.
Coach Bryce Taylor went with the same starting five – Tamin Lipsey, Braden Smith, Taelon Peter, Jalen Slawson, and Rienk Mast.
The Indiana offense was in a better rhythm early on Saturday as the Pacers notched 27 points in the first frame. Slawson continued to show his readiness with eight first quarter points, and Mast produced well throughout the first half. He entered the break with seven points, two rebounds, and two assists.
Rebounding was tough for Indiana through the opening half. The Pacers grabbed just nine rebounds to Philadelphia’s 26, but cleaned up their turnovers from Friday. Indiana committed six turnovers that led to eight 76ers points before halftime.
Indiana faced a 14-point halftime deficit as it trailed Philadelphia, 59-45.
The 76ers lead ballooned in the third quarter, and soon the Pacers found themselves down by a wide margin, 71-52.
Indiana surged later in the third behind Yuki Kawamura’s instant offense. The Pacers created an 18-7 run that spanned the latter half of the third quarter, and ended with Smith hitting a buzzer beater to bring Indiana back within 13 points of Philadelphia heading into the fourth, 80-67.
Slawson cut the lead back to single digits by the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter after slamming down a fastbreak dunk. Indiana trailed, 86-78, but had plenty of time to make its move.
The Pacers worked all the way back to down two with five seconds to play as Smith drove to the basket. Smith was fouled, and knocked down his two free throws to tie the game at 93.
Indiana was overpowered in the two-minute overtime period, and fell to the 76ers, 100-93.
Slawson’s 26 points and five rebounds led the Pacers in scoring, but he was just one of three 20-point scorers in Saturday’s matchup. Johni Broome (23) and Labaron Philon Jr. (24) also eclipsed the 20-point mark for the 76ers.
Smith posted 16 points, two rebounds, and five assists for the Pacers, while Mast came just short of a second double-double. He recorded 10 points and nine rebounds. Kawamura notched 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists off the bench for Indiana.
Indiana’s loss to Philadelphia is the Blue and Gold’s first loss in Summer League, and the Pacers will take a 1-1 record into Monday’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors.
Key Stats
Indiana had five players reach double figure scoring totals – Slawson, Mast, Smith, Keion Brooks Jr., and Kawamura.
After recording a double-double on Friday, Mast nearly notched another one with 10 points and nine rebounds on Saturday.
The Pacers recorded 17 assists on 25 made field goals.
Indiana was 0-for-4 in overtime.
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