Strong First Half Gives Pacers Victory

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Published on November 1 2017 6:21 am
Last Updated on November 1 2017 6:21 am

By ESPN

 A strong first-half allowed the Indiana Pacers starters to rest for most of the second half.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17 points to lead a balanced Indiana offense and help the Pacers to a 101-83 rout of the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

The Pacers (4-3) scored the first nine points and built a 55-30 lead at the half.

"We got to do some cheering today," Pacers guard Victor Oladipo said of reserves receiving quality minutes in a blowout.

Indiana second-year forward Domantas Sabonis, coming off a personal-best 22 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday, had a double-double in the first half with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He finished with a career-high 16 rebounds in addition to 12 points and five assists.

Sabonis was actually sick the previous day.

"I laid in bed and tried to recover and get ready for today," he said. "I'm just coming out there and proving to people that I can play."

Pacers coach Nate McMillan was particularly pleased with his team meeting the per game goal of 25 assists.

"We want that ball moving," he said. "What we're trying to do is create other opportunities to where we get open looks as opposed to contested shots. If we're dishing out 25 assists or more, everybody is touching the ball and it's very difficult to defend that type of movement."

Rookie guard De'Aaron Fox led the Kings (1-6) off the bench with 18 points. Fox has already matched the loss total in his only college season at Kentucky, which finished 32-6.

"It's different," he said. "For me, I've never really lost in my life. It's just a hump we need to get through."

 

Tuesday, October 31 Scoreboard

Indiana 101, Sacramento 83

Phoenix 122, Brooklyn 114

Oklahoma City 110, Milwaukee 91

Los Angeles Lakers 113, Detroit 93


Wednesday, November 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

Milwaukee at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Indiana at Cleveland, 6 p.m.

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Phoenix at Washington, 6 p.m.

Sacramento at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Chicago at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

Houston at New York, 7 p.m.

Orlando at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Denver, 8 p.m.

Portland at Utah, 8 p.m.

Dallas at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m.