Game 34: Pacers (21-12) vs. 76ers (23-12)
Coming off a disappointing performance against the Pelicans, the Pacers were looking to bounce back in a big way and they did just that. This may have been the best game the Pacers have played all season. The 76ers were without their star center Joel Embiid, but the Pacers were also missing Malcolm Brogdon, who played 5 minutes before leaving with back spasms, and of course are still without Victor Oladipo. The 1st quarter was close but the Pacers took off in the 2nd led by former 76er TJ McConnell. The Pacers won the quarter by 22 points and never really looked back. They would go on to win the game by a score of 115-97. Domantas Sabonis led all scorers with 23 points and also finished with another double-double adding 10 rebounds.
FINAL: Pacers: 115 76ers: 97
Game 35: Pacers (22-12) vs. Nuggets (23-10)
The Pacers come into this one having been dominant at home with a record of 15-3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana got off to a quick start and a buzzer-beater at the end of the 1st gave them a 10 point lead at the end of the quarter. After that the Nuggets slowly took the game over and by the 4th quarter the Pacers were the ones down 10 and could never seem to get closer than 5 points before the Nuggets would pull back away. Michael Porter Jr. had the best game of his career, he finished 11/12 from the field and scoring 25 points. The Pacers fall to the Nuggets 116-124.
FINAL: Pacers 116 Nuggets: 124
Game 36: Pacers (22-13) at Hawks (7-28)
Trae Young looked unstoppable. He led the Hawks to an explosive 1st quarter where they scored 43 points and had a 17 point lead after just one quarter. The Pacers would rally back in the 2nd and only trail by 4 at the end of the half. The Pacers who were down 22 points at one point in the game would come all the way back and take the lead in the 3rd quarter. The defenses both clamped down in the 4th, and the Pacers were unable to finish the comeback as they fall to the Hawks 111-116. Young finished with a game high 41 points for Atlanta.
FINAL: Pacers: 111 Hawks: 116
Coming up this week for the Pacers:
Monday January 6th – at Charlotte
Wednesday January 8th – vs Miami
Friday January 10th – at Chicago