Game Recap
The Pacers hung tough with the second-best team in the NBA on Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, going blow for blow with the San Antonio Spurs until the final minutes, but coming up just short in a 110-106 loss. Indiana (29-26) has now lost four straight games with two contests remaining before the All-Star break.
The Spurs (42-13), meanwhile, became the second team in the league to clinch a winning record this season, joining the Golden State Warriors.
The Pacers led by as many as four points in the fourth quarter before San Antonio took a 98-97 lead on Kawhi Leonard's baseline jumper with 3:38 remaining. Leonard then added another jumper on the Spurs' next possession.
A free throw by Monta Ellis cut the deficit to 100-98, but LaMarcus Aldridge then knocked down two foul shots with 1:32 left to make it a two-possession game.
Paul George's jumper on the other end trimmed the deficit back to two with 1:11 to play, but Aldridge converted a three-point play on the other end to thwart any momentum for the Blue & Gold.
George knocked down just one of two free throws — Indiana missed five foul shots in the fourth quarter — but appeared to make up for it by coming up with a steal on the other end. However, George had the ball poked out from behind him by Leonard, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, a play that effectively sealed the game for San Antonio.
"They won the 50-50 balls and hustle plays," Pacers center Myles Turner said after the loss. "That's been a problem for us the last couple games. Some of it's awareness, some of it's IQ, some of it's just getting down and doing the dirty work. That's what we need to start doing."
George led six Pacers players in double figures with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting and collecting six rebounds. Turner added 22 points and six boards in the loss.
Leonard led all scorers with 32 points on 13-of-23 shooting to go along with six rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
"They made big plays down the stretch," George said. "It goes down to their screening. I thought when they needed to get great shots, they screened and got guys open for good looks.
"And then on our end, we kind of played a chaotic style of basketball where we took some tough shots, we rushed some shots."
The Pacers' starting frontcourt did the heavy lifting in the early going, combining for 24 of Indiana's first 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting. George and Turner each scored nine points in the first quarter — Turner going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field. Kevin Seraphin, who got the start at power forward due to injuries to Thaddeus Young (sprained left wrist) and Lavoy Allen (sore right knee), added six points.
In the final seconds of the quarter, Rodney Stuckey found Ellis for an open three just before the buzzer sounded to give Indiana a 31-26 lead heading into the second.
The Blue & Gold maintained a multi-possession lead for much of the second quarter before San Antonio used a 15-5 run to retake the lead in the final minute of the half. Myles Turner hit two free throws with 32.7 seconds left to tie the game, the last points by either team before the break.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair featuring seven ties and eight lead changes, but the Spurs surged in front with 11 unanswered points in a 1:43 stretch and took an 83-79 lead into the fourth.
The Pacers rallied to retake the lead early in the final frame, with Ellis providing an unexpected spark off the bench. The 31-year-old guard ignited the crowd with fastbreak dunks on consecutive possessions, his second game with two dunks after only tallying one slam in his first 45 games this season.
Jeff Teague had 15 points, five boards, and five assists for Indiana, while Seraphin added 12 points and four boards. Stuckey (13 points) and Ellis (10 points) both scored in double figures off the bench.
Aldridge had 19 points for San Antonio. David Lee (12 points and 11 rebounds) recorded a double-double off the bench.
The Pacers will now head to Cleveland to take on the East-leading Cavaliers on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM ET. They will return to Indianapolis to host the Washington Wizards on Thursday night at 7:00 in their final game before the All-Star break.
"We knew this, we've got a tough ending going into this break," George said. "And coming out of the break, we've got a tough start. So we're trying to pick up these games. It must be most important for us to take care of what we have at hand."
Inside the Numbers
The Pacers' four-game losing streak matches their longest skid of the season. They also dropped four consecutive contests from Dec. 22-28.
Monday's game was the 16th time this season that Indiana has had six or more players score in double figures. The Blue & Gold are now 11-5 when that happens.
San Antonio outrebounded the Pacers 49-37 overall and 12-6 on the offensive glass.
Leonard has topped 30 points on 19 occasions this season, including each of his last four contests.
Indiana's bench outscored the Spurs' reserves, 40-29.
You Can Quote Me On That
"They did what good teams do, they made plays down the stretch. I thought we rushed a little bit in the fourth quarter. You have to execute and make plays." -Pacers head coach Nate McMillan
"It's always fun playing against Kawhi. Good friend, good matchup. He had a lot of great looks off screens. They really know how to screen and get guys open." -George
"Probably just moving the ball, getting back to everybody getting touches, everybody making their respective plays. We need to stay locked in on our ultimate goal and take things game by game." -Turner on what adjustments the Pacers need to make
"I was just going off of instinct really. I couldn't stay on the floor and let him dribble up the court and make something happen." -Leonard on his late steal against George
"We made a few shots down the stretch and it usually comes down to putting the ball in the hole as long as you play some decent defense along the way. It was a heck of a competitive game. It was real physical and aggressive. I thought both teams played real well. I'm obviously thrilled with the win on the road. It could've gone either way." -Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich
Stat of the Night
The Spurs are an astounding 9-0 on the season when playing on the road on the second night of a back-to-back.
Noteworthy
- The Spurs lead the all-time series with the Pacers, 52-36.
- San Antonio has won in eight of its last nine visits to Bankers Life Fieldhouse and is 30-8 against Indiana since Popovich took over as coach in the 1996-97 season.
- McMillan said before the game that he was doubtful that Young, who has now missed five straight games, would return before the All-Star break.
- Allen was a late scratch, leaving the Pacers shorthanded in the frontcourt. Second-year big man Rakeem Christmas is in Fort Wayne on assignment with the Mad Ants, the Pacers' D-League affiliate.
Up Next
Indiana makes its first visit of the season to Cleveland on Wednesday, Feb. 15 for a showdown with LeBron and the Cavs at 7:00 PM ET.
Tickets
The Pacers will host John Wall and the Washington Wizards on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7:00 PM ET in their final game before the All-Star Break. Find Tickets »</b