The Indiana Pacers easily defeated the Golden State Warriors 108-96 on Friday night thanks to 25 points apiece from Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.
In order to equal its longest streak of the season, Indiana won five straight games with 10 assists from Haliburton and 10 rebounds from Siakam.
Buddy Hield, a former Pacers standout, led Golden State with 17 points. In their second game in two nights, the Warriors benched six players, including All-Star Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry, and Pat Spencer scored a season-high 17.
Curry had a sore knee, and Green was troubled by a back problem, according to coach Steve Kerr.
Indiana grabbed charge, going on a 17-2 run in the second quarter to go ahead 46-31 after trailing 30-29. Golden State never took the lead again, but early in the third quarter they got within three points and reduced the halftime deficit to five.
However, each time Golden State came near, the Pacers had a response.
Takeaways
Warriors: With so many important players sitting on the bench, it’s difficult to get much out of a game. However, Spencer and Trayce Jackson-Davis, a former Indiana high school and collegiate standout, excelled as Golden State put up a strong fight.
Pacers: Indiana appears to have finally found its rhythm as the team’s momentum keeps growing. Haliburton has returned to his All-Star level, Indiana has won all five games by ten points or more, and the Pacers’ depth is also improving as they recover.
Key moment
In the middle of that huge run that put Indiana in charge, Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin made back-to-back 3-pointers to shift the tide of the game after the Pacers had started the game poorly.
Key stat
The Pacers ended the game with a 54-46 scoring advantage inside after struggling to score in the paint throughout the first half.
Up next
On Monday night, Golden State travels to Toronto for the third game in a four-game road trip. On Sunday, Indiana will travel to Cleveland.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.