Pascal Siakam and the Pacers offer Rick Carlisle his 1000th win!

Almost a month has passed since then Rick Carlisle was stuck at 999 wins. And so it was only on January 8 that the Pacers coach managed to celebrate entering the 1000 club, to join Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Don Nelson, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown or Pat Riley in the pantheon of the most winning coaches in history.

That’s because Indiana, the worst team to start the season, is on a franchise-record 13-game losing streak.

And in Charlotte, the Pacers once again nearly let the game slip away. however, Pascal Sakak (30 points, 14 rebounds) and his teammates imposed their tempo at the start of the match to get a lead (6-18) that they would maintain for most of the match. The problem is that on the other hand, LaMelo Ballwho is used as a 6 man, hits a crazy 3 and ends the first quarter, and it boosts his confidence!

The playmaker (33 points on 7/15 from distance) continues his winning ways, even with the mistake, and Charlotte stays in touch (58-60) when the two teams return to the locker room at halftime.

Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell, one hell of a duo

Assisted by Kon Knuepel, LaMelo Ball continued to push hard in the third quarter, but fell to TJ McConnell (23 points, 8 assists) determined not to let his team suffer a 14th straight loss.

The trade takes care of everything to allow the Pacers to maintain control, except that Miles Bridges is making his impact in return. Indiana remains in the lead, but mistakes by Indiana, especially Jay Huff in the rebound battle against Moussa Diabate, allow the Hornets to take a three-point lead (112-109) before the final minute.

We tell ourselves the Pacers missed their chance again, but that devil TJ McConnell hits a mid-range shot, then Pascal Siakam takes down Miles Bridges for a layup. And TJ McConnell pops up to intercept Moussa Diabate’s quick throw to LaMelo Ball, to force the Hornets into a fumble!

Collin Sexton has the equalizer but his shot is too short. The final victory of the Pacers (112-114)!

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Rick Carlyle finally in the 1000 club. He had to be patient, but it’s done: Rick Carlisle becomes the 11th coach to reach at least 1,000 regular-season wins. He joins Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, George Karl, Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, Larry Brown and Rick Adelman.

– LaMelo Ball used it from the bench. Like the Spurs with Victor Vembanjam or the Pelicans with Zion Williamson, the Hornets are trying the LaMelo Ball experiment as a sixth man. Not for every game, but consecutively, the strategy aims to protect his ankles and allow him to play the fourth quarter. It didn’t bother him too much against the Pacers, quite the contrary as he finished with 33 points on 7/15 from long range!

– Influence of Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell. The two leaders had to come together to stop their team’s downward spiral. With 30 points and 14 rebounds, the Cameroonian set the tone and scored the game-winning layup when the substitute made many, many good moves off the bench. With his constant activity (23 points, 8 assists, 4 interceptions), he even carried the Pacers at times… until this decisive cut.

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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.