Anthony Edwards scores 44, has game-sealing block to put away Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers erased a 17-point first half deficit, but Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards was too much, scoring 44 points including 16 in the fourth quarter and swaying away a potential tying layup in the closing seconds to lead Minnesota to a 113-111 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night.

The Pacers fell to 35-29 and sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Timberwolves improved to 44-19 and lead the Western Conference.

Here are four observations.

Anthony Edwards puts Pacers away

Anthony Edwards went to the locker room twice in the first half, the first time after the game's first play. He stepped on Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith's foot and turned an ankle. Unfortunately for the Pacers, he returned, and when he did, they couldn't stop him.

The Pacers used both of their best defenders on him ― Nesmith and guard Andrew Nembhard ― and both brought force and presence to the assignment, but it didn't matter. Edwards found a way to create creases and space to hit shots in their faces. He finished with 44 points on 18 of 35 shooting, including 3 of 7 from 3-point range. And with the game tied at 105 with less than 90 seconds to go, he went off for seven straight points to help put the game away. He scored 16 points on 6 of 10 shooting in the fourth quarter.

"He's a true three-level scorer," Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said. "He can get to the rim, he can score in the mid-range, he can shoot 3s. That says it all right there. It's kind of hard. Some players you can gap them or whatever, but he can make shots, he can make 3s, he can make mid-range jumpers. He can get to the rim, he's one of the most athletic players in the league. He's definitely a tough cover."

Edwards made 1 of 2 free throws with 7.2 seconds to go for the final margin. Nesmith charged down the floor and got off a layup attempt with about 2 seconds left, but Edwards blocked it, getting his hand up well above the rim to swat it away.

Rick Carlisle, Pacers opt for open floor on last play over late timeout

When Edwards missed the free throw with 7.2 seconds left, the Pacers had a timeout available that would have advanced the ball ahead and given Pacers coach Rick Carlisle an opportunity to draw up a play in the half court. However, the Pacers still had more than enough time to get the ball up the floor and Carlisle opted not to call a timeout because the Timberwolves had to scramble to get back on defense after the miss.

Carlisle said that's how he generally likes to approach such situations, and he had more reason to considering the Timberwolves rank first in the NBA in defensive rating.

"We have the best point guard in the game," Carlisle said. "I'd rather have the ball in his hands without calling timeout and being able to set their defense."

Center Myles Turner rebounded the ball and put it in All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton's hands with about six seconds to go. He saw Nesmith streaking down the right side of the floor with Timberwolves point guard and former Lawrence North star Mike Conley Jr. being the only defender in front of him. Haliburton considered it a much better option to get Nesmith the ball in open space than to take their chances in the halfcourt as well.

"We didn't anticipate Ant missing the free throw, but when he did I just saw Aaron behind the defense and saw an advantage for us," Haliburton said. "I think coach trusts us and trusts me to make the right play. I felt like that was the right look for us, him behind the defense attacking a defense scrambling to get back there."

Nesmith took the ball up high on the run and moved it from his right shoulder to his left hip to get Conley to overrun the play but Edwards and wing Jaden McDaniels got down the floor to contest the shot. McDaniels seemed to make contact with him, but Edwards got absurdly high to make the block.

"Kudos to them for making a hell of a play at the end of the game," Haliburton said.

Pascal Siakam buoys Pacers during slow start

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was asked about the importance Pascal Siakam in his pregame press conference, and Carlisle noted they would be in rough shape if they hadn't acquired Siakam while Haliburton was dealing with his strained right hamstring. Siakam has in many cases been at his best when the Pacers are struggling and need someone to find a way to get a bucket.

Such was the case Thursday as Siakam scored 14 of the Pacers' 49 first-half points against the team with the NBA's best defensive rating. The Pacers kept leaning on him in the second half and he scored 24 points on 10 of 20 shooting. He hasn't scored fewer than 12 points in any of his 23 games with the Pacers.

Siakam scored nine points on 4 of 6 shooting in the second quarter alone, which helped steady the ship after a rough first quarter. The Pacers finished with 26 points and 10 field goals in the half, so he had more than a third of their points and 40% of their field goals.

"He got to the rim, got the ball in the basket," Carlisle said. "Helped the team stay afloat during some dry spells. He's very, very valuable."

That's an asset of Siakam's game that he prides himself on.

"I always feel like when things get a little stagnant or we need an answer, I feel like I can always get something going," Siakam said. "... I can always get a shot going down the floor especially when we need a bucket."

Said Haliburton: "When things slow down, he's just calm and steady and proven and makes play after play down the stretch. I thought he did a great job of getting us buckets when the game kinda slowed down there."

Tyrese Haliburton continues to create through shooting struggles

Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton might not be right from 3-point range yet, but he is finding other ways to score, and his ability to create for others is returning to form.

In the first half, Haliburton missed on all four of his 3-point attempts, but he made all five of his shots inside the arc, including a few longer 2s. He finally drilled a pair of second-half 3-pointers and also continued to create opportunities for himself and others off the bounce. He finished 2 of 7 from 3-point range but was 7 of 8 inside the arc to finish with 23 points and he also dished out 13 assists. Turnovers were a problem ― he had five ― but he was an overall positive offensive force.

"I'm just keeping being aggressive and trusting the work I'm putting in," Haliburton said. "It just takes some time, but I'm getting there. I'll get there."

Pacers box score vs. Timberwolves

MINNESOTA (113): Anderson 1-5 1-2 3, McDaniels 4-7 2-2 11, Gobert 7-11 4-5 18, Conley 2-9 0-0 5, Edwards 18-35 5-8 44, Warren 3-5 0-0 7, Reid 6-15 0-0 13, Alexander-Walker 4-10 2-2 10, Morris 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 46-98 14-19 113.

INDIANA (111): Nesmith 2-10 3-3 8, Siakam 10-20 3-3 24, Turner 4-8 3-5 12, Haliburton 9-15 3-4 23, Nembhard 3-5 0-0 7, I.Jackson 1-1 2-2 4, Toppin 1-3 0-0 2, Walker 2-4 0-0 5, Smith 5-5 3-6 14, McConnell 3-7 0-0 6, Sheppard 2-4 0-0 6. Totals 42-82 17-23 111.

MIN 33 27 23 30 — 113

IND 23 26 34 28 — 111

3-Point Goals—Minnesota 7-25 (Edwards 3-7, McDaniels 1-1, Warren 1-3, Reid 1-4, Conley 1-6, Alexander-Walker 0-4), Indiana 10-26 (Sheppard 2-2, Haliburton 2-7, Smith 1-1, Nembhard 1-2, Walker 1-2, Siakam 1-3, Turner 1-3, Nesmith 1-4, McConnell 0-1, Toppin 0-1). Fouled Out_Minnesota 1 (Anderson), Indiana None. Rebounds_Minnesota 48 (Gobert 14), Indiana 39 (Turner 7). Assists_Minnesota 23 (McDaniels 6), Indiana 26 (Haliburton 13). Total Fouls_Minnesota 20, Indiana 24. A_16,580 (20,000)

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs. T-Wolves: Anthony Edwards scores 44 points to beat Pacers