Pacers drop fourth straight as James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George combine for 90
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers returned home from a trip of more than 10 days but couldn't get back in the win column on Monday, falling 151-127 to the Clippers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The loss was the Pacers' fourth straight. They fall to 13-12. The Clippers have won eight straight and improved to 16-10.
Here are four observations.
Pacers overwhelmed by Clippers stars
The Clippers aren't an easy matchup with anyone with three likely Hall of Famers in their starting lineup -- not to mention Terrance Mann and Ivica Zubac, who are very productive players in their own right -- and another coming off the bench in Russell Westbrook. They are, of course, more trouble for that don't defend well (the Pacers surrendered 137 points to the Washington Wizards on Friday night).
So predictably, the Pacers had trouble defending all that Clippers firepower. A whole lot. The Clippers had 114 points through three quarters and had a 20-point lead at that point. The Pacers couldn't stop any of their superstars.
Former Pacers All-Star Paul George enjoyed another return to Indy, scoring 27 points on 9 of 21 shooting, including 5 of 11 from 3-point range. Kawhi Leonard muscled his way into the mid-range for any shot he wanted, scoring 28 points on 12 of 18 shooting.
James Harden was comparatively quiet for three quarters with 17 points but then went nuclear in the fourth quarter, scoring 18 of the Clippers first 23 points in the period. He finished with 35 points on 12 of 18 shooting, including 8 of 11 3-pointers, and he added nine assists. Zubac scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.
The Clippers shot 56 of 98 from the floor (57.1%) and hit 19 of 38 3-pointers, posting a gaudy 1.44 points per possession.
Tyrese Haliburton plays but has a rough night
The Pacers seemingly got good news on Monday afternoon that All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton would return to action after missing Saturday's game in Minnesota with a left knee contusion. However, Haliburton didn't seem to be himself in the first half and the game was out of reach by the time he regained any type of scoring form.
Haliburton scored just two points on 1 of 5 shooting in the first half and not long after the half, the game was effectively decided. He still finished with eight points and 11 assists, but was 3 of 12 from the floor. Others picked up the scoring, but Haliburton's usual punch was severely missed.
Isaiah Jackson rises to the occasion in the first half
When the Pacers started the season, they had four centers locked in a battle for minutes. All four were in the building on Monday, but Isaiah Jackson was the only one wearing a Pacers jersey.
Starter Myles Turner (hamstring) and backup Jalen Smith (knee) were in street clothes. Smith is nursing a bone bruise in his knee that has kept him out since Nov. 27. Turner was out with a sore bilateral hamstring that apparently became an issue Monday afternoon. Daniel Theis, the fourth-string center out of camp, was healthy but wearing a Clippers uniform because the Pacers bought out his contract in November. L.A. signed him because Mason Plumlee had suffered a knee injury.
The Pacers could have used Theis on Monday, but Jackson still had a strong first half with 15 on 6 of 8 shooting. He didn't score in the second half and finished 6 of 9 from the floor.
The Pacers used power forward Obi Toppin as the backup center and he finished with 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting. However, the missing size was clearly a problem as the Clippers won the rebounding battle 46-34.
Bennedict Mathurin is a bright spot
With Haliburton struggling, Turner out and the defense overwhelmed, there wasn't much positive news, but they at least got a promising performance from second-year wing Bennedict Mathurin.
Mathurin saw the Clippers' ability to get to the rim and tried to match it, scoring a career high 34 points on 12 of 20 shooting with most of those coming on strong drives. He was 3 of 7 from 3-point range and also knocked down 7 of 7 free throws.
Pacers stats vs. Clippers
L.A. Clippers 151, Indiana 127
L.A. CLIPPERS (151): George 9-21 4-4 27, Leonard 12-18 2-2 28, Zubac 7-10 4-5 18, Harden 12-16 3-3 35, Mann 2-5 0-0 4, Ko.Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Theis 1-4 2-2 4, Coffey 0-1 0-0 0, Boston Jr. 3-4 0-0 6, Powell 6-11 3-3 19, Westbrook 4-6 2-4 10. Totals 56-98 20-23 151.
INDIANA (127): Hield 5-9 1-2 14, Toppin 6-8 0-0 14, Jackson 6-9 3-5 15, B.Brown 4-11 3-3 11, Haliburton 3-12 1-2 8, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Nwora 4-8 0-0 9, Mathurin 12-20 7-7 34, Nesmith 4-7 2-2 12, McConnell 5-10 0-0 10. Totals 49-95 17-21 127.
LAC 37 40 37 37 — 151
IND 38 28 28 33 — 127
3-Point Goals—L.A. Clippers 19-38 (Harden 8-11, George 5-11, Powell 4-6, Leonard 2-5, Coffey 0-1, Ko.Brown 0-1, Mann 0-3), Indiana 12-33 (Hield 3-7, Mathurin 3-7, Nesmith 2-3, Toppin 2-3, Nwora 1-4, Haliburton 1-5, B.Brown 0-4). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_L.A. Clippers 46 (Zubac 16), Indiana 34 (Mathurin, Nesmith 6). Assists_L.A. Clippers 26 (Harden 9), Indiana 38 (Haliburton 11). Total Fouls_L.A. Clippers 19, Indiana 21. A_16,665 (20,000)
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs. Clippers: Pacers suffer fourth straight loss
