Portland stayed close to Indiana Thursday night, but the Pacers kept the Blazers at bay, eventually winning an utterly forgettable game, 106-100. But let’s cover a few basics anyway.
- A close first half. With Sabonis glued to the bench in foul trouble, and Oladipo just taking up space, the Blazers’ bench came alive in the first half. Caleb Swanigan and Anfernee Simons helped Portland take a halftime lead.
- The second half was... less fun. Sabonis was back in the game, and Indiana actually seemed like they started trying to win. They picked up their defensive intensity, and countered Portland’s energy with some strong team play.