New Orleans Pelicans catch fire and crush Indiana Pacers to open March

The Pelicans hosted the Pacers on Friday night

The Indiana Pacers and New Orleans Pelicans faced off for the second time in three days on Friday night. On Wednesday, they battled in Indianapolis — this time, it was in New Orleans.

The Pacers won the first meeting behind an excellent first quarter and terrific clutch play. Pascal Siakam was excellent for the blue and gold, and Tyrese Haliburton contributed with the game hanging in the balance. They were going to hope to repeat that result, and their impressive start, from Wednesday.

While Siakam scored the first seven points for the Pacers, they fell behind quickly. It took 3:39 of action for the Pelicans to take a 17-9 lead. They were 7/8 from the field at the time — the hosts were playing with pace and knocking down outside shots.

Indiana kept scoring well going forward, but they couldn't get a single stop. With half of the first quarter in the rear view mirror, it was 26-16 in favor of the Pelicans. New Orleans was 11/12 from the field.

That game flow continued. The Pelicans made 14 of their first 16 shots, and the two that didn't fall were rebounded by New Orleans, who scored on each putback. They were up 32-16 and had scored on every possession in which they took a shot.

The home team got their lead to 20 later in the first period. It was a butt kicking in less than nine minutes. They scored 40 points in the first 10 minutes of play.

With 1:28 to go in the first period, Zion Williamson committed a turnover for New Orleans. It was the Pacers first time preventing the Pelicans from scoring since there was 10:52 to go in the frame. They were dreadful on defense to get going.

After one quarter, the Pelicans were ahead 48-26. New Orleans could only stop themselves — they were 20/22 from the field and scored from an offensive rebound after both misses. The only Pacers stops early were from turnovers. Siakam led Indiana with nine points.

Finally, after over 13 minutes, Brandon Ingram missed a shot for the Pelicans, and rookie forward Jarace Walker grabbed a rebound for the Pacers. It was Indiana's first defensive rebound of the game. The Pelicans were 22/25 from the field at the time. Per Andrew Lopez of ESPN, it was the first time since 2013 that a team didn't have a defensive rebound in an entire first quarter.

Indiana suddenly started rolling. They were trailing by as much as 31 and looked hopeless, but they dominated for the next seven or so minutes. The blue and gold went on a 23-3 run to slash the lead down to 60-49. Their bench was terrific.

There was still work to go, but the Pacers looked capable after an atrocious start. Walker was playing well, as was Jalen Smith and T.J. McConnell. Indiana's bench is reliable.

After that run ended, New Orleans scored five-straight points. But it was at least a competitive game again. The Pacers weren't getting embarrassed, and they had time before halftime to keep the score close.

Instead, it was the Pelicans who surged to close the second period. Their lead got back up to 21 before the break. At halftime, it was 77-56 in favor of New Orleans — Indiana got crushed in the first half. Siakam had 12 points while Myles Turner had 10.

The third quarter opened with more great play from the Pelicans, who ballooned their lead to 28 in the first 3.5 minutes of the half. They effectively ended any momentum grabbed by Indiana in the second quarter. It was a butt kicking again.

New Orleans' edge reached a game-high 32 not long after, which prompted a timeout from Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. His team was getting crushed, and they needed to regroup.

They were a little better out of the stoppage, but the Pelicans' advantage was so large that it felt meaningless. Keeping the scoring margin close to 30 was an improvement compared to the Pelicans' dominant start to the half, but it was still a dramatic score.

The Pelicans lead reached 36 at times throughout the third period, and it stayed at that figure when the frame ended. It was 108-72 through a trio of quarters. Siakam and Turner had 12 points each.

The final period began with veteran forward James Johnson on the court for the blue and gold with four youngsters. The Pacers cleared the bench with the deficit being so large and little time remaining.

Ironically, that group was able to cut into the lead. Indiana slashed the Pelicans edge down under 30 over the next few minutes, with all of their young guys stepping up. Walker and Bennedict Mathurin each knocked down multiple shots for the Pacers.

But the Pelicans, once again, went on a little run. Their lead climbed up to 35 over the next few minutes as a few starters re-entered the game. New Orleans was going to cruise to a win.

In the end, the Pelicans went on to beat the Pacers 129-102. It was the Pacers second-biggest defeat of the season. They fell to 34-27 with the loss.

Siakam finished with 12 points, as did Turner. Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson led Indiana with 13 points each, and Jackson added 10 rebounds. Haliburton had zero points for just the second time of his career and first time as a Pacers player.

Indiana next plays on Sunday when they take on the Spurs in San Antonio.

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• Ben Sheppard is earning trust of Indiana Pacers with his hard play and quality performances. CLICK HERE.
• Jordan Nwora returns to Indianapolis and reflects on his time with the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
• Pascal Siakam shows increased comfort level with Indiana Pacers in February win over New Orleans Pelicans. CLICK HERE.
• Indiana Pacers hold on late to take down New Orleans Pelicans on ESPN. CLICK HERE.
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