Pacers beat the Nets for their first win a rest game all season
The Pacers have won two in a row?!
BROOKLYN – On Wednesday night, for the fourth time this season, the Pacers rested a few (okay, more than a few) players on the second night of a back-to-back. Conveniently, they were battling a team near them in the inverse standings in the Brooklyn Nets – the Pacers were 0-3 in their first three rest games (@ Golden State, @ Detroit, and vs Utah).
In each of those games, the Pacers had struggled tremendously on one end of the floor. Against the Warriors and Pistons, they couldn't score. Versus Utah, they couldn't get a stop. The Pacers reserves are all fine players, but they are imperfect and susceptible to inconsistency.
So it was no surprise on Wednesday night when the Pacers, without almost half of their roster, were down 18 in the third quarter against the Nets. At times, they struggled with their offense – across the first eight minutes of the game, the Pacers had just 11 points. For the rest of the first 2.5 quarters of action, they stunk it up on defense.
Tony East
Then, in the middle of the third quarter, everything flipped. Both teams made several substitutions, and the Pacers bench brought the game closer. Micah Potter, Jarace Walker, and the Pacers two-way contract players all hit their stride and tightened up defensively.
The Pacers had their deficit down to six by the end of the quarter, conceding just eight points in the final 6:30 of the frame. "Guys dug in. Did a better job taking the paint away, taking the rim away," head coach Rick Carlisle said of the defensive turnaround. "Put [the Nets] in some tough situations where they couldn't make shots."
That gave the Pacers a chance in the fourth quarter. They fell behind a few times, most notably at 108-106 with just over two minutes to go, but the Pacers defense and resolve kept them going. It was the second night in a row that they looked composed in a close game.
It led to a dramatic final few minutes. The game was knotted up at 105 with three minutes remaining before Potter traded free throws for Nets baskets multiple times. The Pacers, minus eight players due to injury, had their top-three available talents on the bench in Quenton Jackon, Walker, and Ben Sheppard. Given how many players were out due to rest, Carlisle had few lineup options in the final minutes.
But the available players battled. Potter kept scoring. Second-round pick Taelon Peter hit some big shots from long range.
That set up a situation in which the Pacers had the ball in a tie game with 30 seconds to go. And the shot clock trickled down to two before the blue and gold got a shot attempt up – a right slot three from first-year guard Kam Jones.
On the previous two possessions, Jones had coughed up the ball and let the Nets back into the game. In this moment, though, he forgot about the past. The rookie guard buried a stepback jumper, his first major moment as a pro to give the Pacers a three-point edge with 17 seconds to go. "As for my step back, before I even went up and let it fly, I'm like, 'Oh yeah, this is good'," Jones shared postgame.
Potter felt the shot was coming. "I was so proud. I told him during the game, there was one time I think he had a turnover. I told him, 'next play'. He came down, hit that three the next possession," Potter recalled. "It was so big. Happy for him. Young guy being able to respond like that is huge."
The Jones three, his first of the game coming after two ugly turnovers, was the late-game highlight. But Potter was quite good down the stretch as well – he had 10 points and five rebounds in just the fourth quarter to guide his team late. Carlisle commended his versatility postgame.
Others chipped in during the pivotal final quarter. But it was the defensive flip that won the Pacers this game. They conceded just 28 points in the final 18:30 after allowing 82 in the first 29:30. That's ultimately how they were able to erase an 18-point hole.
"It feels amazing. It always feels amazing to win. Every game ain't pretty," Jones said postgame. "I's always good to leave with more points than the other team, for sure."
So for the first time this season, the Pacers won a rest game. It was at the expense of the Nets, and this game combined with a Pelicans loss had major impacts on the inverse standings – the Pacers are now in fourth-to-last.
They enter the All-Star break at 15-40 and on a two-game winning streak. Without a moment for Jones or a defensive turnaround in the second half, they likely lose in Barclays Center.
All-Star break arrives
The All-Star break is here, and the Pacers could really use it. After a long 2024-25 season and an injury-filled campaign happening right now, the team could use an emotional break and some sunshine.
Carlisle on what he hopes his players do before returning to practice next week: "Use the time wisely, enjoy their families, get to warm weather if they can. We'll see them Tuesday afternoon for practice... All this is going by super fast. As tough as it's been, it's been very enjoyable with this group. These guys are resilient. They respect one another. They respect the game. They play hard. They play for each other. It hasn't always been pretty, but last couple games have been very gratifying."
Potter's big night
Potter's career high in points came last night as he dropped 19 on the Nets, and his 12 rebounds were his second-most ever. The fifth-year pro was productive and made several key plays late.
He's been solid in recent games for the Pacers – his mobility and shooting combine well with general force and know-how. He has few weaknesses and fits in multiple lineups.
And recently, he's doing all of that at multiple positions, toggling between the four and five spots since Johnny Furphy went down with an injury. (And I asked Carlisle about Furphy's surgery timeline last night).
Potter discussed his versatility after the win. "That's part of my job, right? To be ready for anything, and whatever role I have is to try to help the team win the best way that I possibly can. Last night, it was different. Starting, playing against [Karl-Anthony Towns] and trying to defend him. Today, coming off the bench, trying to support the guys the best I can, bring energy off the bench. So just try to be ready for everything and help the team win."
Wrapping up the trade deadline
I won't type the entire story twice, but I was able to speak with Pacers GM Chad Buchanan for about 10 minutes before Pacers-Nets. That full conversation is here.
It's time for the All-Star break. I will have another one-on-one interview on this website in the coming days, then won't have stories until the Pacers resume practice next week. Subscribe so you can have it all sent right to your email inbox.
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