The Indiana Pacers were dealt a tough blow before tipoff when both Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell were ruled out against the Portland Trail Blazers and it showed. They played well enough in the first half despite some odd lineups, but the Blazers put it away in the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers by 14.
Indiana led 35-33 early in the second quarter when Andrew Nembhard hit the team’s sixth three pointer of the game. Unfortunately, that would not only be the last lead of the game for the Pacers, but the last three they would make until the very end of the third.