Running notes: Pacers Summer League Game 3 vs Raptors
The Pacers are 1-2 in summer league play.
LAS VEGAS – Hello from the big gym, a.k.a the Thomas & Mack Center. The Pacers and Raptors faced off Monday in Summer League action, the third summer game for the Pacers.
The Pacers were hoping to bounce back from their loss on Saturday, during which their defense was poor in large part thanks to a tough night on the glass. A 24-point comeback was not enough to win, even after the game went to overtime.
This Toronto squad is the best one the Pacers have played in Las Vegas so far. Running notes from the early afternoon action.
Tony East
-A change to the Pacers starting lineup: Braden Smith, Taelon Peter, Taevion Kinsey, Jalen Slawson, and Alex Reese.
-The Pacers first possession: A hard drive from Taelon Peter, who then dunks. That aggression was good to see.
-The opening minutes of the game: Miserable defense from the Pacers, who are down nine after just three minutes of basketball.
-6:03 first quarter: Rienk Mast is upset with himself after his matchup grabs two offensive rebounds. He audibly reacted and clapped right in front of me after the second one. The Pacers held for a stop, though, then scored on the other end.
-3:52: Tyreke Key moves Yuki Kawamura out of the way with ease for a transition layup. It's 24-6 right now with the Raptors size completely overwhelming the Pacers.
-3:12 first quarter: Rienk Mast puts the ball on the deck, then drives and finishes through contact. He's playing with quite a bit of spirit despite the Pacers ugly start.
-2:30 first quarter: 7.5 minutes into this game and the Pacers have pulled in a total of one rebound. No typo.
-1:05 first quarter: Braden Smith with a nice drive around a screen, getting deep into the paint before hitting Taevion Kinsey for a three. His drives, and depth on them, have been much better since his first game.
-First quarter ends: Pacers are down 10 after a rough one. Braden Smith has three assists and the Pacers have made four total shots.
-9:39 second quarter: Much better Taelon Peter activity level so far. He just flew around off the ball to get open for a movement three and drilled it.
-8:14 second quarter: Alex Reese, who has played with two NBA teams, is playing for the summer Pacers for the first time today. He badly missed a three a few possessions ago. Since then: Drawing a foul on a drive, finishing a strong dunk. Better.
-6:44 second quarter: That's two very recent drives from Jalen Slawson in which he has drawn a foul. It's a clear focus for him. Showing some real signs of life.
-4:21 second quarter: Yuki Kawamura scoots around a screen and draws a foul shooting a jumper from deep. Even with his size issues, he's getting somewhere with the ball every time.
-1:57 second quarter: The Rienk Mast-Yuki Kawamura two-man game keeps working. After an 18-point deficit early, the Pacers earned a lead a moment ago.
-1:18 second quarter: Nice defensive rep from Jalen Slawson against Jaden Bradley, a rookie draft pick from the Raptors. Moments later, a powerful dunk from Slawson.
-7:25 third quarter: Taelon Peter with a steal, then a very good push in transition with his handle. It ended with a turnover thanks to a bobbled pass, but that turnover could have been assigned elsewhere.
-Halfway through the third quarter: Braden Smith is 0/5 from the field. He just has to make some shots. Even with some ok connection with big men for assists, he's struggled to pop in summer league.
-2:45 third quarter: Remember temporary Pacers signee Gabe McGlothan? He just drilled a three and is having a productive game/second half. Up to nine points and four rebounds, and the Pacers lead.
-Very late third quarter: Braden Smith drives by Malik Thomas with ease... and then smokes the layup. Needs to finish those if he actually creates the space.
-9:30 fourth quarter: Jalen Slawson lobs it up for Taelon Peter for a dunk. Those two have connected for a few alley-oops in summer league play.
-8:10 fourth quarter: Gabe McGlothan for three. He's now the Pacers leading scorer to this point in the game and the Pacers are up four.
-6:37 fourth quarter: Braden Smith drives, gets close to the basket, shot fakes to get his defender in the air, then hits Rienk Mast for an easy layup. One of his better drives tonight. But he followed it up with a forced three-point shot, which didn't drop.
-5:31 fourth quarter: Taelon Peter with a quick release corner three to reach 10 points. His box score isn't overwhelming, but this is his best game out here in Vegas by far.
-Late fourth quarter: The rebounding battle was much more problematic for the Pacers early, but even as they've clawed back in that department they keep losing key battles on the glass or bobbling easy ones. Up one with 3:57 to go, it's easy to wonder what the score looks like if the possession war was even.
-2:00 fourth quarter: Jalen Slawson recovers a bobbled ball. He uses the chaos to drive hard and dunk. The Pacers are up five late.
-12.5 seconds to go, fourth quarter: Taelon Peter with excellent on-ball defense with the Pacers down one and needed a stop. The Raptors turned it over.
-Rienk Mast blocked at the buzzer. Pacers lose 94-93 and fall to 1-2 in summer league play.
Thank you for reading. This was my last game out in Vegas, but I'll post running notes from the final two games at home in Indianapolis. If you want those delivered to you directly, you can sign up below.
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