Any positives the Indiana Pacers and their defense had built over recent games was absent in the start of their Western road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers lit up the Pacers from all areas of the floor, shooting nearly 70% as a team in the early parts of the third quarter.
Portland built a double figure lead in the first half thanks to scorching three point shooting, hitting 8-12 attempts in the first half and finishing with 12 on the night. Portland also made much of their offense work by being a threat in the paint, scoring 58, including 14 offensive rebounds to Indiana’s four, with second chance points helping keep the Blazers afloat early when the Pacers squandered opportunities to build an early lead.