The Indiana Pacers continued their journey to securing a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with their latest victory on Monday. Indiana won a nail-biting contest over the Sacramento Kings to the delight of the Gainfield Bridgehouse crowd in a 111-109 finish. There are two key stats to the Pacers' victory over the Kings.
Despite trailing by 16 points in the third quarter, the Pacers rallied against their Western Conference foe for a fantastic finish that electrified the home crowd.
Pacers' star point guard Tyrese Haliburton erupted for 11 points in the final period. With the help of a clutch 3-point basket from All-Star Pascal Siakam, the Pacers put away a competitive Kings team, who's desperately seeking a Play-In Tournament seed.
Sacramento beat Indiana in three significant categories: rebounds, 3-point shooting, and turnovers.
However, the Pacers made the most of their shots from the charity stripe, converting 100 percent of their opportunities, whereas the Kings shot an abysmal 64 percent.
Considering the Kings lost by two points, such a significant discrepancy in free-throw percentages points to how the Pacers narrowly escaped the jaws of defeat from the Western Conference opponent.
Ultimately, free-throw shooting and Haliburton's clutch performance over the pesky Kings stood out as legitimate reasons for the Pacers' victory.
Related: Pacers Rally Past Kings, Play Postseason Ruiner in Process
Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith led his team with 24 points, courtesy of his 9 for 9 finish from the charity stripe.
Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 31 points on 12 for 24 shooting from the field.
Former Pacers star Domantas Sabonis also contributed to the Kings' efforts with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Sabonis' streak of recording a double-double vs. the Pacers continues, as he's recorded six consecutive.
However, the only streak the Pacers care about is winning, and in light of their upcoming opponents, they have a golden opportunity to extend their dominant streak.
Related: How Pacers vs. Kings Rekindles Past All-Star Trade
The Pacers host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM.