Pacers win in OKC!

After three consecutive defeats, c Pacers they gave themselves a breather by winning 117-114 on the floor of the Thunder, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 47 points. This is the 9th loss in a row for the NBA champion, who can no longer break the record for wins in a season.

Without the complex, Indiana surprises from the start as Rick Carlisle opts for a bold small ball, without a pivot. Pascal Siakam starts at No. 5, surrounded by Jerras Walker, Aaron Nesmith, Johnny Furfee and Andrew Nembhardt. A winning formula as they went 7 of 9 on shots to start the match against a furious Nembhard. SGA has SGA and Chet Holmgren shines in the paint, but there is little defense and the Pacers lead 39-28 after twelve minutes.

Nembhard continues his incredible pace and his 3-point shot gives the Pacers up to 17 points (47-30). It’s quite simple, the leader of the Pacers has been released! Ousmane Dieng stops the bleeding and Cason Wallace calls for a riot. At times we find OKC a suffocating defense and Isaiah Joe is there to cover Furphy. The Thunder are eating up the deficit and there is only a five-point difference at the break (58-53).

SGA pulls it all

Coming back from the locker room, the pace drops a bit on the Indiana side, but the Thunder can’t regain control. With each close attempt, Pascal Siakam or Aaron Nesmith are responsible for getting the air back (68-60). First of all, Jerras Walker is proving to be more and more aggressive: outside shots, penetrations, active defense. While Gilgeous-Alexander plays like the MVP, Walker matches him (82-71). Dieng’s good return allows Holmgren to bring the Thunder back to within one (86-85), but Micah Potter saves the basics before attacking the bottom line (89-85).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues his individual exploits, but Nembhard and Walker remain on cloud nine. The two take turns in the attack and restore the advantage of 11 points (102-91). Five minutes left to play. The moment chosen by SGA to hit the point on the scoreboard. The room is falling apart, and its MVP scores 9 points in the final two minutes, including one and two back-to-back layups to get back to within 115-114. With 10 seconds left, the Thunder were forced to foul. Jerras Walker makes 4 free throws with no trepidation. The Thunder have the last possession to tie it, but Joe misses and Indiana creates the feat of the night.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

The thunder subsided. Even if the Pacers have their share of absences, with Tyreese Haliburton obviously, but also Benedict Maturin and Obi Topin, the Thunder were pretty weakened with Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jalen Williams, Aaron Wiggins and Ajay Mitchell missing.

Record pour Walker. Sometimes we wonder if he’s not Cason Wallace’s twin… The author of 26 points, the best of his career, Jerras Walker brings the punch and when the offense stagnates, we can count on him to break the lines with his aggressiveness. In the last seconds, he did well.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=97IKSkOdjHK4

How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.