Execution nearly proved fatal for the Indiana Pacers, who struggled to get out of their own way in the first two and a half quarters against the Sacramento Kings. Indiana trailed by 18 at halftime with the Kings shooting 64% and limiting Indiana to just 11 first half rebounds, but even Sacramento going ice cold in the third wasn’t enough to help the Pacers trim more than a point off of that lead in the first eight minutes of the third.
But out of a Pacers time out, Indiana woke up, finally bringing energy and hitting back to back threes to kick start an 18-9 run to close the third.