Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner had double-doubles and the host Indiana Pacers never trailed in defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 123-114 on Wednesday night.
Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Haliburton had 17 points and 13 assists and Turner had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin added 16 points each and Ben Sheppard scored 11.
Brandon Ingram scored 30 points, Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum had 23 each, Herbert Jones had 14 and Trey Murphy III added 11 for the Pelicans.
The Pacers scored the first four points of the third quarter to extend their lead to 68-53.
Williamson made the Pelicans’ first field goal of the half and Ingram added eight points during a 12-2 run that pulled the Pelicans within 70-65.
Indiana scored the next five points and New Orleans closed within seven points twice before the Pacers held a 96-86 lead at the end of the third quarter.
New Orleans scored the first four points of the fourth quarter and got within six points a second time before Indiana expanded the lead to 104-92.
The Pelicans got within three points before Haliburton answered with a 3-pointer and Siakam made three consecutive field goals for a 121-111 lead with 1:17 left.
Siakam and Turner scored six points each and Ingram countered with nine as Indiana took a 17-14 lead in the first quarter.
Sheppard, Haliburton and Toppin each made a 3-pointer during a 14-2 run that expanded the Pacers’ lead to 15 points.
McCollum made a 3-pointer to end the run and Williamson added a field goal before Indiana finished on a 9-3 push to take a 40-24 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Pacers quickly extended the lead to 20 points before the Pelicans fought back. Williamson scored six points to help reduce the margin to 13 before Indiana rebuilt it to 18.
Murphy had three points and four assists to help New Orleans get as close as six points before the Pacers closed with a 7-2 run to take a 64-53 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media