INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers have been figuring out how to play without key players in the lineup all season.They loss Victor Oladipo earlier in the season and then he went out for the season with the ruptured quad tendon at the knee. Friday night was no different with Domantas Sabonis (sprained left ankle) and Tyreke Evans (food poisoning) out of the lineup. Problem? No problem. Boyz stepped up and did work to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-115 even with Karl Anthony Towns doing damage finishing with 42 points and 17 rebounds.
Bojan Bogdanovic answered with a season high 37 points to lead the Blue Gold past his Town’s Herculean effort. After the game Nate had this to say, “All we need is who we’ve got in this (locker) room. We’ve been adapting, really, all season long with guys being out. Losing Victor early in the season, losing him later in the season for the year. Our coaches do a good job of keeping guys ready to play, and they’ve been able to step in win games. We’re still trying to establish who we are.”
Keeping guys ready is right!!! After withstanding the early barrage of points Karl Anthony Towns dropped off in the first quarter scoring 23 of his 42 points and grabbing 7 of his 17 rebounds the Pacers held on to the knot in the rope. They were able to overcome a 12-point deficit to lead at the break 64-60.
Speaking of stepping up. T.J. Leaf went to work coming off of the bench putting up a career-high 18 points. Thaddeus Young dropped off 15 as Wesley Matthews hit them up with 12. Even the big homie, Kyle O’Quinn tapped the keg with 10 points.
The Pacers shot an outstanding 48 percent from the field and a ridiculous 59 percent from behind the arc. That’s how you win ball games. When guys go down others have to be ready to play and the Pacers continue to do that this season. Up next the Orlando Magic on Saturday night at the Bankers LifeFieldhouse. Stop me when I start lyin’!