This one had potential collapse written all over it. In fact, there was a distant precedent for one.
The Pacers, though, appear to be developing the maturity to hurdle the obstacles of complacency that arise routinely through an NBA season. Their victory over Phoenix at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday was expected and in fact should have been easy, although not necessarily as easy as 13-97. But you know how these things can go. What's expected doesn't always happen over the course of 82 games, especially in a situation such as the one the Pacers were in.