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Game Rewind: Pacers 73, Nuggets 76

Game Rewind

     

The Pacers had the pace of the game to their liking most of the game, but couldn't take advantage of it in their 76-73 loss at Denver Saturday night.

After being blown out by the Nuggets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Nov. 4, 108-87, the Pacers managed to grind this one down to a halfcourt slog. That helped them keep the game close, but they didn't shoot well enough to take advantage. Their field goal percentage, 30.7, was a season-low. With Roy Hibbert going scoreless, they had to settle for jump shots much of the game, and didn't hit enough of them to win.

The Pacers had the ball out of bounds on their own sideline with a chance to force over time with 0.6 seconds left, but C.J. Miles' rushed 30-footer clanked off the backboard.

C.J. Watson missed the game with a sinus infection, leaving the Pacers severely shorthanded at point guard. With regular starter George Hill close to returning from the quad tear that has kept him out all season and Rodney Stuckey playing with a headache, Donald Sloan started and was the only healthy player at that position.

David West led the Pacers with a season-high 19 points. He also had 10 rebounds, for his second straight double-double. Miles scored 16 off the bench. But nobody shot well enough to have a good offensive game.

Miles hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Pacers a six-point lead after the first quarter. They led by one at halftime and were tied after the third period. They took a 60-55 lead early in the fourth quarter and had the ball twice with a chance to extend the lead, but Denver went on a 10-0 run. Pacers coach Frank Vogel became so incensed with the officials during that stretch that he was called for a technical foul.

The Pacers rallied again, as Miles hit consecutive jumpers to make it a one-point game. They had the ball with a chance to regain the lead, but West was left with no choice but to take a fading shot in the lane that missed. The Pacers were still within a point, 69-68, after Lavoy Allen hit two foul shots, but Wilson Chandler hit a three-pointer – his only successful field goal in 10 attempts – to open a four-point lead for the Nuggets.

Allen's rebound basket with 1:10 left got the Pacers within four again, and his rebound basket with 13 seconds left did the same. Donald Sloan's three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining to make it a one-point game. Aaron Afflalo, fouled intentionally, hit two free throws to give Denver a three-point lead, setting up Miles' missed shot at the final buzzer.

West scored the Pacers first seven points, hitting two mid-range jumpers and a three-pointer from the left corner, to get them off to a fast start. He had 11 of their first 13 as well, as they took an 11-4 lead. Solomon Hill kept the Pacers ahead with a three-pointer from the right wing and C.J. Miles wrapped up the period with another three-pointer for a 21-15 lead.

You think that was low-scoring? The second quarter was a slogfest. The Pacers scored a season-low 12 points, but still took a 33-32 lead into halftime. That matched their season low point total for a half, and was Denver's lowest-scoring half. The Pacers hit just 29 percent of their field goals in the half, but did manage to hit three (of 11) three-pointers. Denver missed all eight of its three-point attempts.

Inside the Numbers

Denver 37 percent from the field

Pacers 7-23 on threes, Denver 2 of 16

Pacers outscored in the paint 48-18

Pacers lead on second chance points, 22-10

You Can Quote Me On That

“We just didn't play well enough to win. We've got to play better. We've got to make shots better. I thought we played hard, but we didn't play hard enough to win.” – Coach Vogel

“We still competed at a high level. We got a lot of great looks. I wasn't unhappy with the quality of the shots we got. Tough shooting night. Just have to keep grinding.” – Coach Vogel

“... just sick of missing opportunities, that’s all. Another tough one. We’re fighting. We have to get over that hump. We are playing hard, how hard we are playing isn’t the problem, we just have to figure out how to clean up some things. ” – C.J. Miles

“We got a bunch of good looks, we had a bunch of shots rattle in-and-out and go half way down. It just wasn’t good enough, but we still had a chance. They made some key shots and we weren’t able to respond.” – David West

Stat of the Game

Not only did the Pacers shoot a season-low 30.7 percent from the field (27-of-88), no Pacers other than Lavoy Allen hit 50 percent or more of their field goal attempts. Allen was 2-of-3, scoring on two rebound baskets. West of 8-of-22, and Miles was 6-of-19. The Pacers entered the game ranked 27th in the NBA in field goal percentage.

Noteworthy

  • Roy Hibbert had a second consecutive ineffective game. He finished with no points missing all four field goal attempts, five rebounds and five fouls in 24 minutes. He had seven points on 3-of-10 shooting and three rebounds in 16 minutes against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
  • The Pacers had a rare scheduling break in the game. They had not played since Wednesday, and Denver had played a home game against the Clippers on Friday.
  • The Pacers have lost 10 of their last 11 games, and eight consecutive road games since winning in Dallas on Nov. 24. At that point they had won three in a row on the road, following wins in Chicago and Miami, also.
  • The Pacers have now been swept by four Western Conference teams: Denver, the Clippers, Portland and Phoenix.
  • Denver has won nine of its last 10 games against the Pacers in Denver.
  • Ty Lawson has finished with a double-figure assist total in 20 straight games.

Up Next

The Pacers complete this three-game Western swing tonight in Minneapolis, where they play Minnesota. It will be the first meeting this season between the two teams. The Timberwolves are 5-20.

Tickets

The Pacers return to Indiana next Tuesday (Dec. 23) to host Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, and the New Orleans Pelicans. Plenty of good seats still remain for the game. Plus, pay zero fees for any tickets purchased online through December 31, courtesy of FOX Sports Indiana. Find Tickets »