Game Rewind: Pacers 116, Kings 111 (OT)

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Game Rewind: Pacers 116, Kings 111 (OT)

Mobile Users: Click to Watch PG's 4-Point Play

The Pacers (34-8) gave up 60 first-half points. They gave up 23 second-chance points, allowed Sacramento’s (15-27) backcourt to go off for 80 points and yet they still had a chance to win it. One day after being voted in a starter to next month’s All-Star game, Paul George took over when his team needed him most.

George scored 12 of the Pacers’ final 17 points, including a clutch four-point play that forced overtime in the Pacers come-from-behind victory, 116-111, in what's likely their final game at Sleep Train Arena.

When an opponent is shorthanded for the game, there is an immediate concern from the Pacers knowing that other players will step up with the opportunity. That was the case Friday night in Sacramento as the Kings were without their top two scorers—DeMarcus Cousins (sprained left ankle) and Rudy Gay (left Achilles strain)—due to injuries.

Kings guard Marcus Thornton scored in doubles figures for the first time in 10 games with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first quarter alone. Despite just one turnover, Indiana’s offense was disjointed and its defense wasn’t getting stops. The Kings dropped 37 points in the first quarter, the most the Pacers have allowed in any quarter this season, and had an 11-point lead.

The Pacers had a few problems holding them back. Indiana’s offense was not dialed in and often looked flustered in executing the called play. As the Pacers’ troubles mounted and they dealt with foul trouble, the Kings went on a 21-6 run to lead by as many as 17 points. Lance Stephenson began pushing the ball and got easy buckets at the rim, helping the Pacers go into the locker room trailing by a manageable 10 points, 60-50.

After surrendering 60 points for the third half in a row, the Pacers came out more aggressively and with improved communication. Trouble was, they were losing their cool with every call that went against them. Midway through the quarter, George Hill and Paul George hit consecutive 3-pointers, part of a 9-1 run that pulled the Pacers within one, 73-72. However after the latter triple, the Pacers didn’t make a field goal for the final 5:39 but still tallied points at the foul line, and headed into the fourth down by five.

Down seven with six minutes to play, David West contributed six points during an 11-2 rally by the Pacers. Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas, who tied his career-high with 38 points, answered with a shot beyond the arc and then a couple free throws.

With 18.3 seconds to play and trailing by four in regulation, George triggered the inbound pass, got the ball back and then fired a 3-pointer from the right side. He banged it in and was fouled to knot the game up at 103, ultimately sending the game into an extra session for just the second time this season.

George scored eight points in overtime, including a two-handed slam off a pass from Hill in transition. He then picked the ball away from Thomas, sealing the hard-fought road win over the shorthanded Kings. It wasn’t pretty, but every single one of them counts.

All five Indiana starters scored 10 or more points for the eighth game this season. For the second time in four games, Paul George led the Pacers with 36 points, counting his perfect 8-for-8 clip at the foul line.

Lance Stephenson had 24 points, his eighth game with at least 20 points. Though he struggled finishing, Roy Hibbert had 10 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. George Hill scored all 10 of his points in the third and also finished with eight rebounds and a team-high eight assists.

Marcus Thornton tied his career-high with 42 points in 42 minutes, going 7-of-15 from long range. His output was the most points an individual has scored on Indiana all season. With 38 points, Isaiah Thomas also matched his career-high and also posted at least 20 points for the 24th time this season. Derrick Williams grabbed 11 rebounds and added seven points.

For just the sixth time all season, the Pacers yielded more than 100 points. Tonight was their first win.

Coughing the ball up 12 times, the Pacers only surrendered five points off turnovers while converting 18 turnovers by the Kings into 19 points.

The Kings scored 23 points off of 19 offensive rebounds.

Indiana’s 21 second-chance points is tied for the second-highest total of the season, with their largest output (25) also coming against Sacramento.

“We knew they would be up. We knew they would be loose with their two top scorers out and they were. They came out, Isaiah (Thomas) and Marcus (Thornton) were just sensational with their shot making and all their guys were at a real high level but just really proud of our guys for weathering the storm, buckling down on the defensive end, getting them to 38 percent, keeping them off of the free throw line for the most part and finding a way to win.” – Frank Vogel

“When you have the defense we have, you never feel like you’re out of the game. … I just couldn’t be more proud.” – Frank Vogel

“Coming off of the screen I just knew to rise up. I know I have the confidence to knock the shot down. I knew to just get the ball up and shoot that shot with confidence.” – Paul George on his 4-point play

“I think so. Anytime that teams have people out, their adrenaline and the team picks up the slack. Just because they had two starters out, don’t mean that team was going to give up.” – George Hill on this being a game championship-caliber teams pull out

“We feel good. Just another day at the office. Paul got employee of the month. It took a real big heart to be able to hit that shot.” – Roy Hibbert

Marcus Thornton and Isaiah Thomas teamed up to score 80 of Sacramento’s 111 points on 50-percent shooting. The rest of the team shot 23 percent, with no other player having more than seven points.

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