MEMPHIS, TN — For the first time since starting the season 3-0 the Indiana Pacers are on a three game winning streak. After jumping out of the ride fast and putting up a 45 point first quarter leading by 14 points at the end of the first period. Indiana had to hold on down to the stretch to walk out of the joint with a 132-125 victory.
Leading by 18 points in the third quarter it looked as if the Pacers would cruise to an easy victory. That wasn’t the case. Memphis played with so much confidence down the stretch that it was never really over until it was over.
Caris LeVert led the Pacers with 34 points as Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis put up monster numbers as they both threatened triple doubles. Brogdon finished with 29 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds while Sabonis dropped off 18 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists.
Doug McDermott keeps putting in work off of the bench as he contributed 13 points to the effort. Edmond Sumner had 11 as T.J. McConnell finished with 10.
In the past Indiana has had difficulty closing games out but their confidence is growing now. They’ve been able to show the resilience needed to finish games according to LeVert.
“It’s poise offensively,” LeVert said about being able to finished now. “A lot of poise. I feel like once you get one game down, the confidence level goes up, and you feel like you’re supposed to win those games. I feel like that’s where we are right now as a team.”
Indiana finished with a season-high 53 rebounds and shooting 52 percent from the field. They shot 70 percent from the field in the first quarter jumping all over the Grizzlies.
Up next they host the Clippers on Tuesday.