Mavs hang 134 on Pacers as defense remains an issue, plus injury and development notes
The Pacers "lost" for the third time in a row.
INDIANAPOLIS – The Mavericks had not won since January 22 when they came to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon. The Pacers hadn't won since before the All-Star break themselves. The inverse standings were a major storyline, as was Pascal Siakam's return to the hardwood after a three-game absence.
It became a fun battle between two teams having rough seasons. Both groups played their best available talents for an approximately normal minute load – PJ Washington hit the hardwood for 36.5 minutes for Dallas while Siakam and Andrew Nembhard both sniffed 30. Both teams were hot from three and made 50-plus percent of their shot attempts.
Yet the story of the game itself is a trend becoming too familiar for the Pacers – atrocious defense. They allowed 134 points, meaning they've conceded 265 in their last two outings. The Mavericks had 64 points in the paint and were on fire from deep until the fourth quarter. Scoring came easy for the visitors.
Tony East
And they had so many free lanes to the rim that the Pacers were forced to foul often. 23 times, in fact, above their average for the season. Head coach Rick Carlisle pointed to that as an area of concern before even fielding a question postgame. "The fouling was a big problem," he said. "In the first half, we had 13 fouls and they had five... We have to defend without fouling better."
Altogether, Dallas had 64 points in the paint, 32 free throw attempts, and shot it well from deep. The Mavericks won the rebounding battle by six. Every area of the game that could contribute to an offensive edge, the Mavs won it.
The worst of it came in the first quarter when the Pacers gave up 36 points. They actually improved their defense throughout the night and allowed fewer points every frame, but the number still stuck over 30 in all four quarters. In total, the Pacers have given up more than 30 points in seven-straight quarters.
"It's not good enough. I think defending without fouling is something that's going to be a point of emphasis, especially after tonight," guard Andrew Nembhard said postgame. "Just got to be better guarding our yard."
So despite many offensive successes, including 30 points from Siakam and 22 from Nembhard, the Pacers couldn't get a win against Dallas. Losing isn't fun, but dropping a game to Dallas specifically, who entered the night with 19 victories and now has 20, is a positive for the inverse standings. The Pacers are now 15-43.
They've lost three in a row with a few tough opponents coming before playing Memphis in their final home game between two lottery-bound teams this season. In the meantime, the smaller wins from individuals are more noteworthy for the blue and gold.
Kobe Brown's continued emergence
It was quite the day of firsts for Kobe Brown.
The newly-acquired Pacers forward played his first home game as a member of the Pacers on Sunday. And for the first time of his NBA career, there was snow on the ground for a home game he played in. Quite the shift from his former home in Los Angeles.
In the second quarter, he dealt with his first Gainbridge Fieldhouse malfunction as the fire alarm went off. An occasional horn and some flashing lights did little to deter Brown or the Pacers, though. It was cold outside – the only fire inside was the 26-year old.
Brown had seven points and three rebounds at the end of the first quarter. He found the net on his first three shot attempts from deep. By the end of the night, he had 15 points.
That's a first – he'd never scored more than 13 before Sunday. And he chipped in seven boards as well, putting together perhaps the best game of his entire career.
Brown already has three games scoring in double figures for the Pacers. He did so just twice in 2.5 years with the Clippers. He's producing and has fit right in despite a change of scenery – and weather.
"I feel like he knows who he is. Crashes the boards hard," Nembhard said of Brown. "He's been really good from three... I think it was pretty easy for him to [figure out our style], honestly."
Tyrese Haliburton has... shingles?!
I noticed that Tyrese Haliburton wasn't with the Pacers in Washington after the All-Star break. Given that he travelled for the break and it was presumably one of the first times he's had an extended departure from Indiana since his achilles tear last summer, I thought little of his absence. My initial thought was simply that he took a longer vacation.
Nope. He actually was planning on being in DC, but Haliburton has shingles. He's going to be away from the team for 2-3 weeks. Rick Carlisle revealed the diagnosis before Pacers vs Mavericks.
"He's away from the team right now. He's come down with shingles, which is a very painful thing. He'll likely be away from the team for at least two or three weeks as he recovers. He will make a full recovery," Carlisle said. "This happened over the last few days. He was meeting us in DC and had some odd symptoms. Ended up coming back here. So that's what's happening with him... it's a unique case, a unique situation."
Pascal Siakam explains his hamstring injury
Pascal Siakam missed the second round of Pacers-Wizards due to left hamstring injury management. When I asked Carlisle about it pregame, he said it's been something Siakam has been dealing with for a while, and he almost was shut down for a game or two about three weeks ago.
Siakam pushed through, but it's an on-again, off-again injury that the team doesn't want to risk getting worse or causing long term problems.
I asked Siakam about his hamstring after the Pacers lost on Sunday.
"We've been working on it... Just trying to pinpoint exactly how we can manage it. Obviously, a lot more from this situation. Playing a lot of minutes, being out there, being asked to do a lot. All the help, all of the things that are happening. So it's been tough," Siakam began. "But I'm the type of person, I don't like sitting out games. You're going to see me out there. With coach, we're going to fight all the time about being in the game or whatever. I want to play. But at the same time, I've got to be cautious of those things. We don't want anything like that, we've got to continue to manage it in a way that's best for me. It's a part of all that. I do my job to work on it every single day and try as hard as I can. I'm only a man. Sometimes, you don't feel like you can play or the coaching staff is like 'it's better for your health', I'm all for that. But anyone that knows me knows I want to play. I don't want to sit."
Now, Siakam is dealing with a left wrist sprain and is doubtful for Pacers vs 76ers on Tuesday. Any small injury for Siakam the rest of this season should keep him glued to the bench.
Thank you for reading. My cat had a "fun" trip to the vet today, so this story is coming out much later than I hoped. Subscribe for more, and timely, reporting on the Pacers and Fever.
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