The eyes of most basketball fans were likely focused on the collegiate level tonight, but the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers sure gave us something to watch anyway. However, it didn’t look like it would be that way when things started out.
For one, game No. 69 for Brooklyn began in a familiar fashion, with two Jordi-isms coming less than two minutes into the game, those being a prompt introduction to the three-ball and a green light special. The Nets’ first four shots came from beyond the arc. Fernández also challenged what could have only been the game’s third or fourth whistle, reversing an early out-of-bounds call. That’s just what the man does.
But early on, familiarity didn’t equal efficiency. The Nets connected on just one of their first eight attempts from deep despite the benefit of solid looks. Between that and Indiana posting .350/.250 splits in the first, the game’s first few minutes moved like a mollusk in molasses.
It wasn’t until the bench mob checked in that things started picking up steam. As the first quarter bled into the second, Brooklyn splashed five of seven from range. Trendon Watford got the highlight amid that run which eventually put Brooklyn up 11 early in quarter two.
Day'Ron stays with Toppin from center court to the cylinder. Clowney pushes, finds Watford to nail a three just before the buzzer.
More great burn from Brooklyn's bench. pic.twitter.com/nVq3gCXGIv
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) March 20, 2025
The Pacers didn’t take long to swing back, but Brooklyn wasn’t exactly phased by what was undoubtedly Indiana’s best punch of the first half. A lackadaisical inbound from Nic Claxton found Ben Sheppard’s hands, who then found a trailing Myles Turner for a thunderous dunk to help carry Indiana on an 8-1 burst.
Loud as the jam was and Gainbridge Fieldhouse likely got at that point, Brooklyn’s defense wasn’t intimidated. The Nets went on to force eight Indiana turnovers in that second frame, leading to eight extra points. Their trademark ball-pressure and ability to recover also forced the Pacers into .368/.278 first half splits.
As a result, the Nets led at half by 10 despite shooting just 39.1% from the field themselves. It was a pitcher’s duel — and the Nets were winning with the “fastball.”
“It was really just sprinting, honestly,” said Ziaire Williams of the defense at halftime, sitting at that point with 10 points while shooting a perfect 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from deep. “Like, simple as that, just run back.”
He would go on to finish with 22 points while shooting 6-12 from deep, beating a career-high for triples made in a game he set only a few weeks ago.
But after posting such low shooting numbers in the first half, the Pacers did the same thing any wise team would do in the second: search for high percentage looks. After tallying just 14 points in the paint in the entire first half, the Pacers put up 12 there just over halfway through the third. As the Nets on the contrary missed a handful of shots right around the rim in the third, Indiana began to apply pressure once more.
In turn, Brooklyn continued to fend them off. The Nets entered the fourth with a 71-67 lead. Each time the Pacers looked ready to take control, the Nets blew a bit more air into the cushion keeping them separated on the scoreboard. D’Angelo Russell, who had nine points in the frame and 22 for the game, had his hands on the pump most of the time.
Indiana's interior defense has been unreal in the second half...but the Nets continue to stiff-arm them on the scoreboard with hustle. pic.twitter.com/RatEWMiAiI
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) March 21, 2025
But after almost 45 minutes of the Nets stiff-arming the home team, they eventually shoved back, literally. After a bucket from Bennedict Mathurin, who was only just getting started at that point, Trendon Watford got into with Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner. Even Jordi Fernández appeared to take a shot.
Watford received two technical fouls and was ejected. Turner and Nembhard each drew one, making everything offset.
Indiana’s fighting wouldn’t stop there, and on the latter part of a back-to-back sequence, they’d even go a few extra rounds with the Nets. Two blanked possessions from Russell down the stretch, split by a flurry of points from Mathurin whittled Brooklyn’s lead down to three with under a minute to go.
Then, with 14 seconds to go, Mathurin made three final chips that brought it to zero. After Keon Johnson closed out too hard on a would-be game-tying three from the Indiana guard, he went to the stripe. Mathurin found the net all three times. A broken offensive play later and we were introduced to free basketball.
At the tail end of an unbelievably grueling game, everyone looked exactly as you’d expect in the overtime period. Players on both sides were missing short, missing free throws, and even missing their man in transition on a few occasions.
As the teams dredged along, nobody went ahead by more than two, that was, until the Pacers went up three an four with 18 seconds to go following a Myles Turner rejection and a pair of game-sealing free-throws from T. J. McConnell.
Despite the hostilities, both teams (or at least front offices) will end their nights having gotten exactly what they wanted. It wasn’t pretty, but it was fun, and we’ll do it all again on Saturday.
Final: Indiana Pacers 105, Brooklyn Nets 99
Milestone Watch
Ziaire Williams (22 points) recorded the seventh 20-point game of his career tonight (third this season). He also buried a career-high six 3-pointers.
The Nets forced 25 turnovers tonight, making it their 10th game with 20+ turnovers forced this season.
Jordi Gets Real Pre-Game
It’s understandable for teams on the brink of being eliminated from postseason contention to develop a broader definition of what a “win” is every night. But for Fernández’s Nets, who’ve spent a year pissing off tank commanders by going for literal wins night in and night out, it was interesting to hear them admit there’s more to the game than finishing ahead on the scoreboard.
“It just shows with the the competitiveness, the good spirits, you know, our ability to be in games or win games, and I think that goes with showing up every day and working and getting better, a lot of the things that you guys cannot see,” said Fernández. “We really value the day-to-day work and what this group is doing, and this is just the first year right now. It’s been very positive.”
“We’ve gotten better, and it doesn’t stop right now,” Fernández then went on. “So like we always said, winning starts now. Whatever that win means for us, that can stay in the locker room or in the organization, but it’s very important that we’re not wasting any time.”
Next Up
NBA: Indiana Pacers at Brooklyn Nets Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Want more Indiana Pacers? You got more Indiana Pacers. The Nets will stay in the Hoosier State for the weekend, playing Mathurin and company once more late Saturday afternoon.