Running notes: Pacers Summer League Game 5 vs Pelicans
One more quality outing for Jalen Slawson in Las Vegas.
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE – Hello from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers aren’t here, but I am for Fever vs Liberty.
More specifically, I am in a room that features a screen showing both the WNBA action and Pacers vs Pelicans. It was the final summer league game for the Pacers, who were hoping to grab a second win.
It was also the last chance for the Pacers to evaluate their two-way hopefuls. And all of their main summer players (Taelon Peter, Jalen Slawson, and Braden Smith) were playing in the summer finale. Running notes from Pacers-Pelicans below.
Tony East
-The final starting lineup for the summer Pacers: Braden Smith, Taelon Peter, Jalen Slawson, Gabe McGlothan, and Rienk Mast.
-Rienk Mast for three to open the scoring for the Pacers. He’s been impressive throughout summer league action.
-6:50 first quarter: Smooth run out and layup for Braden Smith, finishing in transition. He rarely gets chances that easy.
-6:08 first quarter: Rienk Mast with a powerful dunk after a nice pass from Braden Smith. The Pacers are already up seven, and those two have done much of the damage.
-5:29 first quarter: Braden Smith with a push in transition, hitting a ready Taelon Peter for a corner three. It’s the second triple already for Peter, then Jalen Slawson follows it up with a pull-up from beyond the arc.
-4:23 first quarter: Yuki Kawamura with a tight-angle pass to Keba Keita for an assist. Early on the very same possession, Kawamura threw up a floater that didn’t even get high enough to clear his defender’s arms.
-7:57 second quarter: Poor read, and pass, from Braden Smith for a pick-six the other way. Can’t have that in his role, and his next pass on the team’s next trip was off target, too – though Jalen Slawson did catch it.
-7:07 second quarter: These two teams have now combined for 22 turnovers in 13 minutes. Summer league at its finest.
-7:03 second quarter: Jalen Slawson for three, his second of the game. If he’s getting outside shots to drop, I think he’s the most deserving candidate for the Pacers final two-way spot.
-5:11 second quarter: Jalen Slawson looks for a clip-worthy dunk all over Malik Dia, but the Pelicans big man challenges him at the basket and stops the highlight. Bold, yet telling, choice for Slawson. He hit the free throw.
-2:00 second quarter: Taleon Peter tries a powerful dribble to get out of the corner while facing a defender, but he turns the ball over. Not a pretty rep, but he scored on the team's next possession.
-48.7 second to go, second quarter: Disgusting (positive) pass from Yuki Kawamura to Jalen Slawson for a basket at the rim. I don’t know how he completed that one. Then, his layup is goaltended on the Pacers next trip.
-9:16 third quarter: Impressive pass from Braden Smith to a streaking Jalen Slawson in the open floor, then a powerful dunk from Slawson. The strengths of both players on display with that trip.
-8:10 third quarter: Braden Smith drives, gets the defense to fold, kicks it out, then relocates for a three after giving up the ball and getting it back. Great sequence.
-3:28 third quarter: Taelon Peter for three. He’s having a nice quarter with some dynamic attacks, passes, and jumpers. A good close to summer league outside of turnovers.
-Much of the third quarter: Productive, and powerful, plays from Keba Keita. He’s been a talented player throughout summer league and just finished a layup with touch late in the third. He played a big part in the Pacers third-quarter run.
-End of third quarter: Yuki Kawamura with a dime to Keba Keita for a layup. The Pacers dominated that frame.
-7:20 fourth quarter: Two consecutive possessions that Yuki Kawamura sets up Jalen Slawson for a bucket. Those two have had a real connection during summer league.
-5:27 fourth quarter: Jalen Slawson with a pretty turnaround jumper. He has, as he has for much of summer league, been awesome.
-3:08 fourth quarter: Jalen Slawson with a pretty lob to Taelon Peter for a dunk. One more highlight from the two-way hopefuls.
-2:36 fourth quarter: Jalen Slawson for three. About as good of a close to summer league as he could have wanted.
And the Pacers pummel the Pelicans for a win to close out summer league. It was close at halftime, then all Pacers the rest of the way. Final score: Pacers 91, Pelicans 73. The summer Pacers finish 2-3.
Thank you for reading. That's the end of summer league, but multiple Pacers stories still to come. Sign up and they will be emailed directly to your inbox.
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