Loss to Pacers ends Warriors’ 2015-16 streak

The Oklahoma City ThunderThe pursuit of the Golden State Warriors’ 2015-16 record of 73-9 came to an end on Friday night with a 117-114 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Paicom Center. The loss dropped Oklahoma City to 37-9 on the season after starting the campaign 26-3, ensuring that the historic standard of 73 wins will remain unbreakable.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 47 points on 17-of-28 shooting, going 12-of-12 from the free throw line. Despite his fifth 40-point game of the season and scoring 102 against Indiana this year, SGA’s efforts weren’t enough. Chet Holmgren contributed 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Kenrich Williams (12) and Cason Wallace (10) were the only other OKC players to reach double figures. Shooting just 27% from beyond the arc (7 of 26), the Thunder were outrebounded by the Pacers, who sank 16 of 38 3-pointers.

Oklahoma City entered the game without five of its starters: Alex Caruso, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Hartenstein. This forced head coach Marc Daigneault to field unconventional lineups, including a second-quarter rotation of Cason Wallace, Brooks Barnhiser, Kenrich Williams, Usman Dieng and Jaylin Williams. Dieng played 14 minutes off the bench, his most since Dec. 7, and Isaiah Joe made his first start of the season, attempting a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the dying seconds.

Without star guard Tyrese Halliburton, Indiana relied on a small-ball approach to take advantage of a depleted Thunder roster. Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 27 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Jerras Walker scored a game-high 26 points, including four free throws in the final 10 seconds, and Pascal Siakam added 21 points. Forward Aaron Nesmith, who had a shooting slump, finished with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. Micah Potter had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Indiana jumped out to a 17-point lead early in the second quarter and overcame several Oklahoma City rallies to stay ahead. The Thunder cut the lead to 94-91 midway through the fourth quarter and later to 116-115 with 24 seconds left, but the Pacers’ defense and strategic foul play protected the lead for the win.

Friday’s win gave Indiana its third road win of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak, moving the Pacers to 11-35 and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, OKC, at 37-9, still owns the best record in the NBA and remains atop the Western Conference.