Boom finally whole, dominate Squadron for fifth straight win
With the Pacers relatively healthy, all three two-way players suited up for the same G League game for the first time this season as Noblesville rolled. Two Pacers players sat courtside to support.
NOBLESVILLE — As the Pacers continue a four-game homestand, their G League affiliate is also at home for two games this weekend.
From last Wednesday through Tuesday, there is either a Pacers or Noblesville Boom home game on all but one night — a great opportunity for basketball fans in central Indiana to enjoy pro basketball.
I made the 25-mile drive from downtown Indianapolis to Noblesville on Friday for the Boom’s home game.
What made the night notable was that it marked the first time this season all three two-way players — Quenton Jackson, Ethan Thompson, and Taelon Peter — were in uniform together for a G League game. Additionally, 2025 second-round pick Kam Jones was assigned to the team for practice on Thursday and suited up Friday.
“It’s really nice,” Boom head coach Tom Hankins said Friday night.
Hankins has been in the role long enough to expect the unexpected, but this season hasn’t been easy. The Boom entered the year with a completely new roster and have never been at full strength.
“A lot of talented guys out there and we played really well together. Anytime we get these guys to come down and they’re used to playing against the best of the best and practicing against the Pacers and all that. So for them to come down here and get some reps, work on their conditioning and timing, it’s always fun.”
It was appreciated, too, because the team was without guards Cody Martin (illness) and Cameron Hildreth (back).
The Boom (9-6) gave up a dunk in transition after at turnover, then responded with a 17-2 burst — including 13 straight points. They trailed for a total of 31 seconds and led the rest of the way.
It was a complete domination — as it should have been, given the talent finally available.
It just took until Game 29 of the season.
The G League splits the season into two phases: the Tip-Off Tournament leading into the Winter Showcase, followed by the regular season. While teams typically dislike the record reset, the Boom welcomed it this year.
They went 5-9 during the Tip-Off Tournament, opening the season on the road and even needing to bus in a player from Chicago under emergency hardship conditions — yes, much like the Pacers.
They were also directly impacted by the Pacers’ early-season injury issues, which required all healthy two-way players to remain with the NBA club. The Boom had their own injury challenges as well, with both centers sidelined until mid-December.
Following a 124-111 win over the Birmingham Squadron — the New Orleans Pelicans’ affiliate — the Boom improved to 9-6 and moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. It was their fifth straight victory.
“We just continue to get better, specially on the defensive side of the ball,” Hankins said. “Just more solid. We don’t gamble nearly as much.”
This roster is entirely new and younger than Boom teams in recent seasons. So there’s a lot of learning on the fly from guys who didn’t initially understand because they hadn’t played at this level.
The Pacers want to imitate the Pacers: play hard, play fast, and play together.
“Everybody in this league can play,” Hankins continued. “So they’ve done a great job of paying attention and learning and continuing to get better. Probably the most enjoyable part about this group of guys, especially the guys just on the Boom roster, is how they love to play. They want to get better. So they’re in the gym extra, they’re asking questions all the time, watching film — which is not common for the G League.
“To find an unselfish group and a group where the majority of them wanna get better — it’s hard. It’s pretty rare.”
The Boom had three 20-point scorers, led by Gabe McGlothan’s 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting off the bench. Jackson scored 23, while Thompson added 21.
The pace, ball movement and shot quality were exactly what Hankins wanted. The Boom enjoyed an 18-5 advantage in fast break points. The skill level of the two-way players stood out, even to casual fans in the building for a fun Friday night.
Thompson (4-for-4) and Jackson (3-for-3) combined to make their first seven 3-pointers. By halftime, the Boom led by 21 points and had recorded 18 assists on 22 made field goals.
That makes a coach happy.
Pacers executives Chad Buchanan, Ted Wu, Ryan Carr and Vance Catlin were in attendance, along with player development coach Isaac Yacob and sports performance coach Erik Huddleston, who began his career with the Boom.
That evaluator presence matters for players on both teams seeking opportunities — and it’s another argument for hosting G League games in a local market.
Two Pacers also made the trip to Noblesville on a rare Friday night off: guard Andrew Nembhard and forward Obi Toppin.
Toppin got out of his seat to take care of fans at the end of the third quarter.
He posed for many photos and signed autographs for almost 10 minutes. Those small interactions mean a lot to these kids — just look at their faces below. And some of them likely haven’t been able to attend a Pacers game before; Boom games are easier to get to and much more affordable.
The Boom have now won six of their last seven games and will host the Squadron again Sunday afternoon for “Pacers Night” at The Arena at Innovation Mile.
Love seeing the Pacer players supporting their Boom teammates.