The Indiana Pacers delivered a powerful performance against the Washington Wizards on Thursday night, scoring a season-high 162 points in the NBA. They won by a significant 53 points, which is the third-largest victory margin in the league this season.
The Pacers` 162 points are the most scored by an NBA team in a non-overtime game since 2008. Playing the night after a close loss to the Lakers, Indiana set a new team record with 27 successful 3-point shots. They also achieved an impressive 48 assists, the highest in the league this season.
These are all season-high numbers for the Pacers, who have been performing strongly recently and are now leading the Pistons by two games for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
- Field-goal percentage: .641
- Bench points: 85
- First-half points: 83
- First-quarter points: 45
- Third-quarter points: 42
The Pacers could have scored even more but began taking shot-clock violations in the final minutes. They essentially could have stopped scoring after the third quarter and still won comfortably with a 37-point lead.
Tyrese Haliburton stood out with 29 points and seven 3-pointers. In total, eight Pacers players scored in double digits. Myles Turner scored 17, Jarace Walker had 16, and Obi Toppin contributed 15 points.
Lakers coach JJ Redick praised the Pacers after their recent game, calling them a “phenomenal basketball team” that doesn`t get enough national attention.
The Pacers are among the top five teams in wins since the beginning of January, alongside title contenders like the Thunder, Cavaliers, Celtics, and Nuggets. While not yet considered top title contenders themselves, they are proving their strong performance from last season was no fluke.
This Pacers team is serious, not just because of this big win against the struggling Wizards, but because of Haliburton`s offensive command and a consistent defense that has been in the top 10 for the past three months.
