Nembhard returns, but same issues appear for Pacers after dominant first quarter in Memphis
One step forward (getting Nembhard back), then two steps back surrendering a 19-point lead and unable to sustain good, focused play after the first quarter.
For 12 minutes, the Indiana Pacers of today shined like the team from last season.
For 12 minutes, they didn’t turn the ball over and played with the rapid pace fans had come to expect — which led to 11 assists on 17 field goals.
For 12 minutes, they had the rebounding edge and doubled their opponents’ output in the paint.
For 12 minutes, they made seven 3-pointers and were on pace for 180 points.
After a 45-28 lead entering the second quarter, everything changed in a hurry. They finished with 15 turnovers, made just seven threes over the final 36 minutes, and they were outscored 108-76 the rest of the way.
The Pacers (9-12) were in Memphis for a Sunday afternoon game to begin a four-game road trip. They yielded a season-high 136 points in a 136-121 loss, their sixth in a row on the road. (Yes, the road woes continued.)
“Second quarter, we had a lull and we didn’t play well,” head coach Rick Carlisle said postgame. “This team is going to make a run in their building. They’re physical, they’re deep, they’re going to make the game a very physical game — and they did that.
“… Our ability to be successful on this trip is going to come down to how connected we can stay when things get tough and our ability to sustain good play. We were unable to sustain from the second quarter on, really much of anything that we wanted to.”