Pascal Siakam scores 29 and fuels third-quarter charge to lead Pacers past Rockets 132-129
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Pascal Siakam relied on his scoring punch, T.J. McConnell added the energy and the Indiana Pacers defense turned up the pressure in the second half Tuesday.
It was exactly what they needed.
Siakam finished with 29 points and teamed up with McConnell to score 17 during a third-quarter rally that propelled the Pacers past the Houston Rockets 132-129.
“The third quarter, we just kind of sat down, get down into the bodies and pressured more,” Siakam said. “That's how we've got to be, that's how we've got to play defense to continue to evolve, which I think is an area that can make us a special team.”
The defense has been Indiana's biggest weakness most of this season. But with the addition of Siakam through a mid-January trade with Toronto and the savviness of McConnell, things could be changing.
McConnell had 17 points and four assists as the Pacers allowed 54 second-half points just two days after holding their first opponent to less than 100.
The result: Indiana won its second straight overall and for the ninth time in the series.
But Houston sure made it tough.
Jalen Green had 30 points in the Rockets' second straight loss while Dillon Brooks added 23. Rookie Amen Thompson finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as Houston played without starting guard Fred VanVleet, who coach Ime Udoka said isn't likely to return until closer to the All-Star break.
And yet, Houston still seemed to be in control when it extended a 75-68 halftime lead to 85-75 early in the third. Then, over the final 9:53 of the quarter, everything changed.
“We defended well for two quarters, second and fourth,” Udoka said. “We didn't feel like we had to take any contested shots tonight, just continuing to penetrate and kick, make easy reads. We didn't really duplicate it as well in the second half.”
The difference showed. While Indiana's defense allowed just 14 points during that long third-quarter stretch, Siakam and McConnell fueled the comeback. Indiana used that closing 31-17 flurry to take a 106-99 lead.
Houston never fully recovered as Indiana quickly extended the margin to 14 early in the fourth and the Rockets couldn't get closer than seven until Alperen Sengun's tip-in made it 129-124 with 1:13 to go.
Green's 3 with 46 seconds to play cut the deficit to 130-127.
But two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton answered with a layup to seal the victory despite continuing to play on a minutes restriction as he continues to rehab from a left hamstring injury. He had 18 points, seven assists and one giant smile.
“There's a little bit of service after the game, but in the game, I feel good after a little while so that's a positive,” he said. “To be able to start games, finish games and play close to my traditional minutes, I'm just happy to be more healthy.”
UP NEXT
Rockets: Continue their four-game road trip Friday night at Toronto.
Pacers: Host Golden State on Thursday night.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Alperen Sengun vs. Myles Turner (Pascal Siakam gains possession) | ||
| 11:47 | | Myles Turner misses two point finger roll layup | ||
| 11:45 |  | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:34 | | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 3-0 |
| 11:24 | | +3 | Aaron Nesmith makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 3-3 |
| 11:07 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 5-3 |
| 10:53 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving floating jump shot (Myles Turner assists) | 5-5 |
| 10:39 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 8-5 |
| 10:24 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:20 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point running jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 11-5 |
| 10:14 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:02 | | Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 10:02 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-6 |
| 10:02 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-7 |
| 9:43 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving dunk | 13-7 |
| 9:30 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point driving floating jump shot | 13-9 |
| 9:15 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point dunk (Dillon Brooks assists) | 15-9 |
| 9:01 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point driving finger roll layup | 15-11 |
| 8:52 | | Jalen Green turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 8:42 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point driving finger roll layup | 15-13 |
| 8:27 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point cutting layup (Alperen Sengun assists) | 17-13 |
| 8:15 | | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:12 | | Andrew Nembhard offensive rebound | ||
| 8:04 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point driving finger roll layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 17-15 |
| 7:37 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:34 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 7:27 | | +3 | Pascal Siakam makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 17-18 |
| 7:15 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving finger roll layup | 19-18 |
| 7:09 | | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 6:59 | | Myles Turner shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 6:59 | | Alperen Sengun misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 6:59 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 6:59 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-18 |
| 6:47 | | +3 | Myles Turner makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 20-21 |
| 6:24 | | Jalen Green misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:22 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | Myles Turner misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 6:10 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 5:57 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 22-21 |
| 5:47 | | Myles Turner misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:46 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 5:46 | | Aaron Nesmith personal foul (Loose ball) (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 5:36 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot | 25-21 |
| 5:36 | | Tyrese Haliburton shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 5:36 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-21 |
| 5:29 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:25 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 5:14 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:12 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 5:05 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving floating jump shot | 26-23 |
| 4:45 | | Aaron Holiday turnover (lost ball) (Pascal Siakam steals) | ||
| 4:34 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point driving finger roll layup | 26-25 |
| 4:32 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:19 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:19 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 4:12 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point running finger roll layup (Obi Toppin assists) | 26-27 |
| 4:00 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point driving finger roll layup (Aaron Holiday assists) | 28-27 |
| 3:36 | | +3 | Jalen Smith makes three point jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 28-30 |
| 3:15 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:14 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point putback dunk | 30-30 |
| 2:56 | | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point cutting dunk (Obi Toppin assists) | 30-32 |
| 2:35 | | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 33-32 |
| 2:09 | | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:07 | | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 2:03 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Cam Whitmore assists) | 35-32 |
| 1:54 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving floating jump shot | 35-34 |
| 1:39 | | Jalen Smith personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 1:33 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point driving finger roll layup (Amen Thompson assists) | 37-34 |
| 1:23 | | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point jump shot (Jalen Smith assists) | 37-37 |
| 1:11 | | Jalen Smith blocks Amen Thompson's two point layup | ||
| 1:05 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 0:58 | | Jeff Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:56 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 0:47 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 37-39 |
| 0:33 | | Amen Thompson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 0:27 | | Aaron Holiday kicked ball violation | ||
| 0:18 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point hook shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 37-41 |
| 0:03 | | Amen Thompson misses two point driving dunk | ||
| 0:02 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 39-41 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:49 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:45 | | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | ||
| 11:24 | | T.J. McConnell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 11:18 | | +3 | Aaron Holiday makes three point running pullup jump shot (Jeff Green assists) | 42-41 |
| 11:04 | | Jalen Smith turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 10:52 | | +3 | Aaron Holiday makes three point pullup jump shot | 45-41 |
| 10:40 | | Ben Sheppard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:36 | | Jeff Green defensive rebound | ||
| 10:31 | | +3 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point running jump shot (Jeff Green assists) | 48-41 |
| 10:29 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:08 | | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point pullup jump shot (Jalen Smith assists) | 48-43 |
| 9:44 | | Buddy Hield personal foul (Cam Whitmore draws the foul) | ||
| 9:36 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point driving finger roll layup (Aaron Holiday assists) | 50-43 |
| 9:36 | | Jalen Smith shooting foul (Jeff Green draws the foul) | ||
| 9:36 | | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 51-43 |
| 9:25 | | Aaron Nesmith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:19 | | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 9:12 | | Jeff Green offensive foul (Aaron Nesmith draws the foul) | ||
| 9:12 | | Jeff Green turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:05 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 9:01 | | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | ||
| 8:50 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 8:49 | | Buddy Hield defensive rebound | ||
| 8:45 | | Cam Whitmore personal foul (Isaiah Jackson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot (Obi Toppin assists) | 51-45 |
| 8:19 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point cutting dunk (Jeff Green assists) | 53-45 |
| 8:03 | | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:59 | | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | ||
| 7:52 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 55-45 |
| 7:42 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving layup | 55-47 |
| 7:29 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 57-47 |
| 7:17 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point alley-oop dunk (T.J. McConnell assists) | 57-49 |
| 7:05 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:02 | | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | ||
| 6:56 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point running layup (T.J. McConnell assists) | 57-51 |
| 6:55 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:31 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point layup | 59-51 |
| 6:09 | | Buddy Hield turnover (traveling) | ||
| 5:57 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point pullup jump shot | 61-51 |
| 5:45 | | Andrew Nembhard misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:42 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 5:33 | | Jabari Smith Jr. turnover (lost ball) (T.J. McConnell steals) | ||
| 5:27 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point running layup (T.J. McConnell assists) | 61-53 |
| 5:15 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 5:13 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 5:06 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:06 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 4:59 | | Amen Thompson shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 4:59 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 61-54 |
| 4:59 | | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 4:58 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 4:44 | | Jalen Green turnover (bad pass) (Tyrese Haliburton steals) | ||
| 4:39 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point running pullup jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 61-56 |
| 4:17 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:15 | | Pacers defensive rebound | ||
| 4:15 | | Amen Thompson personal foul (Loose ball) (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | ||
| 4:00 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point jump shot (Pascal Siakam assists) | 61-58 |
| 3:35 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving finger roll layup | 63-58 |
| 3:23 | | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (bad pass) (Dillon Brooks steals) | ||
| 3:18 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point running dunk (Dillon Brooks assists) | 65-58 |
| 3:06 | | +3 | Andrew Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 65-61 |
| 2:49 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | ||
| 2:49 | | +1 | Dillon Brooks makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 66-61 |
| 2:49 | | +1 | Dillon Brooks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 67-61 |
| 2:38 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 67-63 |
| 2:20 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving floating jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 69-63 |
| 2:06 | | Pascal Siakam turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Green steals) | ||
| 2:04 | | Jalen Green turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 1:54 | | Jalen Green personal foul (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | ||
| 1:46 | | +3 | Pascal Siakam makes three point pullup jump shot | 69-66 |
| 1:28 | | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point driving layup | 71-66 |
| 1:09 | | Amen Thompson blocks Aaron Nesmith's three point jump shot | ||
| 1:07 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point reverse layup | 73-66 |
| 0:48 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:45 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:33 | | Myles Turner shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 0:33 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 74-66 |
| 0:33 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 75-66 |
| 0:19 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point dunk (Pascal Siakam assists) | 75-68 |
| 0:03 | | Jalen Green misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:03 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |