3 takeaways as the Indiana Pacers lose to Utah, drop fourth game in nine days

On Tuesday of this week, the Indiana Pacers had been 12-8 and had not but misplaced a sport by 20 factors this season. Three days later, the blue and gold are 12-10, and each losses in that span had been by 20+ factors. Indiana is taking part in its worst basketball of the season proper now.

On Friday night time, the Utah Jazz destroyed the Pacers in Salt Lake Metropolis. It was the Pacers fourth loss in six video games, and their protection has actually struggled in that stretch. They’ve conceded 114 or extra factors in every of their final half-dozen video games — they didn’t do {that a} single time throughout their five-game successful streak in the course of November.

“We stayed composed and bought the win,” Jazz center Walker Kessler said after the sport on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. The Pacers weren’t as composed, they turned the ball over 18 instances and fouled Utah on a staggering 35 events.

The Jazz had a solution for each Pacers run. Indiana reduce the result in 7 with 2:21 to go within the first quarter, however Utah was up 15 early within the second body. The Pacers erased that lead and tied the sport within the second quarter solely to search out themselves down by 16 at halftime. After a 9-0 run to trim the benefit to 10 within the third quarter, the Jazz went on their very own run and led by 20 to shut the body. The Pacers put collectively runs, however none of them had been robust sufficient.

The ultimate rating was 139-119. Utah hit 32 free throws and 15 threes, which is a recipe for fulfillment. Until you are the Pacers. Then it is a recipe for catastrophe. A struggling Pacers crew has quite a bit to remove from an unsightly sport.

The Pacers protection stinks proper now.

Indiana has conceded 356 factors within the paint throughout their final six video games. That is a median of 59.3 per sport. Solely three groups within the NBA are permitting greater than a median of 54 paint factors per night time, and 59.3 could be final within the league by about three complete factors per sport.

The Pacers cannot hold groups away from the rim. They’ve struggled to maintain guards in entrance of them and defend within the pick-and-roll. Rudy Gobert, Ivica Zubac, and now Kessler have completed harm inside as a result of their matchup is often away serving to cease a guard.

Concurrently, Russell Westbrook, De’Aaron Fox, D’Angelo Russell, and Ben Simmons had robust statistical nights as the purpose of assault protection on them was weak. The Pacers have dropped from thirteenth to nineteenth in defensive score simply this week, they’ve slipped on that finish of the court docket. They need to begin defending higher to get again on monitor.

Tyrese Haliburton had an off night time.

Haliburton had his fifth-worst scoring sport of the season with 14 factors in opposition to Utah. He shot 5/16 and was a -12 on the night time. However none of that’s the reason it felt like Haliburton had an off night time.

The Pacers start line guard had simply 4 assists, his lowest whole of the season. It was simply his third time having fewer than eight assists this yr, and the blue and gold have misplaced all three of these video games. The Jazz had sport plan to gradual him down.

Haliburton was a game-time choice with a sore groin, so it is unclear how a lot of an influence that harm might have had on his efficiency. However he did not play as much as his traditional stage, and the Pacers did not as a crew, both.

Andrew Nembhard continues to impress.

Whereas most Pacers gamers had a forgettable night time, rookie level guard Andrew Nembhard continued his spectacular streak of play.

The thirty first total decide within the 2022 NBA Draft completed with 13 factors and ten assists, which means he completed together with his first profession double double. He had six assists to Myles Turner alone, and he dished out a half dozen dimes within the second half. Nembhard’s passing was thought of one in every of his higher abilities coming into the NBA, and he confirmed why on this sport.

Since getting back from harm on Monday, Nembhard has successfully defended LeBron James, hit a sport winner in opposition to the Lakers, re-entered the beginning 5, and posted a double-double. He has been a vibrant spot for the blue and gold throughout their current run of poor play.

• League supply tells AllPacers the most recent on Chris Duarte’s ankle harm. CLICK HERE.
• Kevin Durant on the Indiana Pacers: ‘They play model of basketball’. CLICK HERE.
• Inside Tyrese Haliburton’s return to Sacramento and the feelings behind the sport. CLICK HERE.
• Report: Los Angeles Clippers thinking about Indiana Pacers middle Myles Turner. CLICK HERE.
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