The Indiana Pacers fell to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night, losing 113-109. The Hornets have only won seven games all season, although two of them came at the expense of the Pacers. Indiana won their game prior, but their four-game losing streak before that last victory seems more in line with their season.
The Pacers entered the game favored by double digits, but the Hornets took a lead early in the second half and never let it up, despite Indiana breathing down their necks the entire game. All in all, the Pacers' starters were at fault for the loss to the Hornets, who snapped an eight-game losing streak.
The Pacers' scoring effort was led by TJ McConnell's 30 points, with starters Tyrese Haliburton (nine points), Andrew Nembhard (10 points), Bennedict Mathurin (11 points), Pascal Siakam (ninepoints), and Myles Turner (ten points) combined to shoot a lowly 6-20 from deep.
The Hornets, on the other hand, shot 48.3 percent from deep and were led by Brandon Miller's 26points without LaMelo Ball in the lineup.
In Indiana's earlier loss to the Hornets, they were outrebounded 56-37, with Moussa Diabate adding 16 boards off the bench. On Sunday, the same issue reared its ugly head, as Indiana only secured 33rebounds even with Diabate not playing for the Hornets.
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Three bench players scored ten points or more for Indiana, which would usually be enough for Indiana to eke out a win, but Turner and Haliburton were unable to have a positive effect on the game, with Turner (6-foot-11) only gabbing a single rebound.
Indiana's next game won't be until Friday, so they will have plenty of time to work out their myriad of weaknesses before they take on the Philadelphia 76ers.
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This story was originally published December 8, 2024, 6:35 PM.