Three takeaways from Indiana Pacers bounceback win over Los Angeles Clippers

The Pacers beat the Clippers on Monday

Tony East | Mar 26, 2024

Mar 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) moves the ball / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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The Indiana Pacers recovered from a tough loss on Sunday and took down the Los Angeles Clippers Monday. Any road win against a good team is important, and the Pacers did it on the second night of a back-to-back — which has been a challenge this campaign.

Indiana needed the victory to keep up in the Eastern Conference standings. They still sit in sixth place in the East, which is the final seed that is guaranteed a playoff spot. Every win for the Pacers, who only have nine more games, is extremely important.

"Everyone was just contributing and just playing so hard," Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said after the game on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast of the action. Siakam was terrific, scoring more than 30 points.

With the victory, the Pacers guaranteed themselves a winning record on their current road trip, an important result this late in the season. They have been focused on both ends of late, and against an older, out-of-form Clippers team, that was enough to win. Their offense looked special.

The Pacers best three players all reached the high level of play they are capable of. That, along with other small details, are among the takeaways from an impressive road win for the blue and gold.

Indiana's stars shined

Siakam, Myles Turner, and Tyrese Haliburton were all excellent for the Pacers against LA. Siakam, who has been on a tear recently, led the way with 31 points. It was his second-straight game climbing over the 30-point mark. He looks much more comfortable of late.

"For me, it's always a learning process no matter what. It's getting better," he said after the game of his comfort with the team.

Siakam added four rebounds and two assists. Turner, his frontcourt partner, was really good on both ends as well. He contributed 24 points, seven rebounds, and one block on Monday night, and he dominated the matchup with Los Angeles big man Ivica Zubac.

Turner's excellence in that matchup forced the Clippers to adjust and go small, and the Pacers were ready for it. The veteran big man set the tone in both halves, and the blue and gold got it done as a result.

Haliburton made six threes, the most he has canned in one game in the year 2024. It had been nearly three months since he did that, and his night ended with 21 points and nine assists. He was a threat on offense and appears to be emerging from his slump. He, along with Siakam and Turner, were all too much for the Clippers.

"It's great... When all of us are clicking and we're playing at our pace, we're hard to beat," Siakam said of that trio postgame.

Jarace Walker fit in and stood out

Pacers rookie forward Jarace Walker finished with eight points, a number that doesn't jump off the page. He had four rebounds, another number that makes sense for a reserve wing — which was his role in this game.

Yet his numbers sell his night short. Walker was tremendous. It might have been the best game of his career, and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle seemed to think so. He played Walker for a career-high 29:24.

The 2023 lottery pick didn't miss a shot all night, going 3/3 from the field and 2/2 from deep. He wasn't asked to finish plays much, but when he got a chance, he took advantage. His patience was impressive.

So was his defense and passing. Walker finished with a career-high seven assists — he kept the ball moving and routinely hit the right man. His quick decisions with the ball made him a snug fit offensively despite not touching the rock much.

On defense, he held his own against the Clippers' stars. Earlier in this season, Walker would have been too jumpy and may have fouled out. In this outing, he battled and made life difficult for his opponents.

"It's definitely a tough matchup. They've got some guys over there. I've been ready for a while now," Walker said of his defensive assignments.

Altogether, it may have been Walker's best-ever game. Indiana won his minutes by 23 points. He said during an interview on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast that he only found out earlier that day that he would be playing (Aaron Nesmith suffered a knee injury that kept him out), and he was ready to go.

"Proud of [Walker]... Just came in and gave us great energy," Siakam said.

A non-losing season

The Pacers played with pace in this game, finishing with 12 fast break points and getting into their offense early. That's how they want to play, and a slower LA team wasn't prepared for it.

"We know our style is always faster, especially when it comes to individual matchups," Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boucek said during an interview at halftime on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast of the game. She believed that her team's style was productive during much of the first half.

It was even better in the second half, and it led to a victory. It was the Pacers 41st win this season, which means they won't have a losing record in 2023-24. After three seasons with a below-.500 record, the Pacers are back to being a more competitive club.

They have their sights set on the playoffs, and they will hope to secure an over-.500 record this season when they play on Wednesday in Chicago against the Bulls.