The Pacers started out strong but ended up beating the Sacramento Kings 94-91 to win their first away win and push their season record to 4-7.
Four of those seven losses were in tight-knit games where the Pacers missed a last-minute opportunity, including the Blazers' game. A poor start left the Pacers 13 points behind the Trail Blazers in the first quarter, which Rick Carlisle considered a factor despite his team's ability to bounce back.
The Pacers took an early 13-point lead against the Kings, who did well on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends while also struggling to control the tempo as the Kings prefer to speed up the pace.
But as the Pacers' previous results showed, the BLUES and Gold teams have small margins of error no matter who the opponent is, and they can equalize quickly when they go through a bad game. The misstep was the main culprit for the Pacers' dangerous descent in the second half.
The Pacers ended the game with 21 turnovers, while the Kings scored 24 points on the other side. A game without Malcolm Brogdon did nothing to help the Pacers' backcourt rotation.
McConnell had another productive night, starting with 18 points and four assists, but he also had four turnovers. Brad Wanamaker performed well but overall did poorly in the bench rotation, causing 3 turnovers, 2 of which were bad.
Let's start with Karis Levitt and his steady scoring efforts over a period of time when needed. Loft doesn't fare well behind the three-point line and doesn't shoot well, but his ability to control the speed of possession, attract the attention of defenders, and his ability to be a master of mid-range are critical. Levittt ended up with 22 points and six rebounds. He didn't get any benefit from the referees as they swallowed their whistle in Levitt's final move, resulting in a lot of contact, especially if you compare it to the kings whistle at the other end.
Miles Turner was equally crucial, giving the Pacers a strong boost on both ends of the field in the second half. Turner scored 12 points but grabbed 15 rebounds, blocked five times and made three assists on the offensive end.
Domintus Sabonis' stats were good, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but trapped in foul trouble, Carlisle eventually let Turner end the game in midfield, which shows how well Turner played because.
McConnell also played a big part in the last minute on this productive night. He made a tough layup and then conceded another, much like a big goal he lost in Portland. Luckily, the Pacers were able to get a few steals, McConnell got a few key rebounds before eventually being fouled, and in the final point of the game, the Kings tried to equalize without a timeout and 2.5 seconds. No shots will be fired.
Rookie Chris Duarte started the game early and played a big role in the beginning. Duarte scored 15 points and five rebounds, nine of which were in the first quarter.
McConnell also had a lot to say to a fan after the game, who apparently chirped throughout the game. Turner added some verbal attacks, but McConnell mentioned how great it was for fans to get back to the field, and the trash talk they heard on the road added fuel to the fire.
The Kings used some powerful stretches behind the three-point line to complete their run. Buddy Hield and Thales Halliburton were the biggest problems, with the Kings duo scoring a total of eight three-goals, but Halliburton's final long-range shot missed the victory and was snatched by McConnell on a free throw.
The Pacers now have two days off before heading to the mountains on Wednesday and Thursday to face Denver and Utah. Thanks to the victory over Sacramento, stealing one win in at least one game would be a positive road trip.