Running notes: Pacers Summer League Game 2 vs 76ers
The Pacers 24-point comeback came up just short in overtime.
LAS VEGAS – The summer Pacers were in action again on Saturday, playing the second leg of a back-to-back against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers were hoping to build off of their win yesterday but were playing a more formidable summer foe.
As usual, the focus for the Pacers is their two-way talents as well as newer players looking to make an impression at a higher level. Establishing a style is important, too, but summer league is all about talent evaluation.
Running notes from Pacers vs 76ers below.
Tony East
-Pacers starters remain the same: Braden Smith, Tamin Lipsey, Taelon Peter, Jalen Slawson, and Rienk Mast.
-8:30 first quarter: Braden Smith holds up defending a much larger 76ers player. A nice bit of stocky defense.
-6:45 first quarter: An emphatic dunk from Jalen Slawson, who is clearly looking for his shots.
-4:58 first quarter: Braden Smith gets just a bit deeper into the paint on a drive and draws two defenders. That opened up a three for Rienk Mast. Nice action, and a good bit of penetration from Smith.
"Even though we won yesterday, I was upset with my performance and how I was. But, at the end of the day, we won, and that's best for Pacers and for our team," Smith said postgame. "So for me, I've ust got to flush that. And then obviously came out today, played a little bit better, but we lost."
-3:06 first quarter: Yuki Kawamura rises up for a turnaround jumper over a bigger defender. He's such a delight to watch. (Just before this, a taller offensive player easily scored over him with a jumper. Such is life at his height.)
-2:10 first quarter: Another in-traffic pass from Yuki Kawaura, this time to Keba Keita for an and-one.
-Late first quarter: Pacers mixing in some aggressive traps on defense. The traps themselves have been decent. The recoveries behind the play, not so much.
-49 seconds left in the first quarter: Rienk Mast with a gorgeous pass on the move to a cutting Jalen Slawson, who throws down a dunk. Mast continues to impress. Slawson has started strong.
-Several times in the first quarter: The Pacers could not contain Matt Rogers, a rookie forward for Philly. He scored 11 points in the first quarter alone.
-8:18 second quarter: Taelon Peter drives and draws a foul. That was the most explosion he had shown all game after a quieter start, again.
-5:57 second quarter: After a clean skip; pass from Yuki Kawamura, Taelon Peter drives and can't beat his man. Then, he threw away a turnover. Forgettable rep.
-Late-ish second quarter: 76ers First-round pick Labaron Philon starting to show his best stuff. Some nice passes and drives to the basket that have given the Pacers trouble.
-Very late second quarter: So many sloppy passes for the Pacers. Turnovers are really allowing this game to get out of hand. The 76ers are up double figures.
-Early third quarter: 2025 second-round pick Johni Broome is dominating this game for Philly. The Pacers don't have the size to contain him and keep getting crushed when they switch.
-7:36 third quarter: Braden Smith nearly gets a McConnell stealing an inbounds pass. He was upset to lose the ball and smashed the stanchion.
-6:48 third quarter: The Pacers were, believe it or not, down 46-43 at one point. It's 71-47 Philly now. So, a 25-4 run in total.
-6:07 third quarter: Taelon Peter with a nice lob in transition for a Keba Keita dunk. One of Peter's best plays in this game.
-3:10 third quarter: Pascal Siakam with a huge smile courtside as Yuki Kawamura takes the ball to the cup and draws a foul. He's loving it.
"It's special," head coach Bryce Taylor said of Kawamura and his ability to provide a jolt. "It's amazing to see his spirit that he plays with, the competitiveness that he plays with. I think everyone feeds off that type of energy."
-Mid third quarter: The Pacers defense has been rough for the last 10-12 minutes or so. They cannot string together stops. Their lack of size is really clear here.
-Late third quarter: Yuki Kawamura has captured the hearts of the Pacers roster. Pascal Siakam, Quenton Jackson, Obi Toppin, and Jay Huff are rising to their feet following his every move. He's got 12 points and two assists.
-Just before the third-quarter buzzer: Really nice fadeaway jumper from Braden Smith, his first made shot of the game.
-8:10 fourth quarter: The 76ers get a steal, then three offensive rebounds on one possession before drawing a foul. Can't have those trips as the Pacers.
-6:13 fourth quarter: After the ball swung around the perimeter for ages, Jalen Slawson fakes a pass and drives for a layup. I continue to like his summer league despite some familiar issues plaguing his overall performance.
-5:12 fourth quarter: Jalen Slawson punches a dunk in transition. He's in a zone right now and the Pacers are down eight. They're surging.
"Just my athleticism, my physical frame, being able to impose my will," Slawson said when I asked why he's driving more often in summer league. He feels as if he's improved in that department. "Get to the paint, draw paint, and then see what's open, see what's open around me."
-4:37 fourth quarter: Braden Smith sizes up his man, then drives right by him for a layup. That's his best drive of summer league.
-2:14 fourth quarter: Braden Smith for three via a catch-and-shoot chance. His first triple of summer league, and a big one at that.
1:14 fourth quarter: Braden Smith with a one-handed pass to Jalen Slawson for a dunk, and-one. That made it a one-point game.
-5.7 seconds to go: Braden Smith takes a screen from Taelon Peter, then drives. He draws a foul and earns two free throws to tie the game. He makes them both. The Pacers have erased their 24-point deficit. And this game is going to overtime after a 46-22 Pacers run to end it.
-Basically the entire overtime: Jalen Slawson drives and draws some contact, but not enough to earn a whistle. The Pacers didn't score again.
Final score: 76ers 100, Pacers 93. The Pacers are now 1-1 in summer league play.
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