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INDIANAPOLIS -- Guard Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points to lead the Timberwolves to a 124-104 win over the Pacers on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers lost their third straight game to fall to 18-61, assuring that this will be at least the second-worst season in franchise history and maintaining the second-worst record in the NBA. The Timberwolves improved to 47-32. They sit in sixth in the Western Conference and could clinch a top-six position if the Suns lose to Houston later on Tuesday night.
Forward Julius Randle and guard Bones Hyland scored 19 points each for the Timberwolves. Forward Naz Reid had 17 points. Guard Ethan Thompson led the Pacers with 17 points. Forwards Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson had 14 points each.
Here are three observations.
At halftime, the Pacers were shooting an even 50% from the floor, a healthy 41.7% from 3-point range and a nearly perfect 88.9% from the free throw line.
But they were still down by 10 points because they had as many turnovers as they had made field goals.
At that point, the turnover figure was 16. They did somewhat better at taking care of the ball in the second half, but still gave it away 23 times in the game.
The Timberwolves turned those into 34 points. Of the 23 turnovers, 16 were steals so those led to easy transition opportunities. But more to the point, they simply dominated the possession battle. Minnesota attempted 89 field goals to the Pacers' 73 and 41 3-pointers to the Pacers' 26, even though they only won the rebounding battle 39 to 34. The Pacers simply gave away entirely too many possessions to keep up. The Pacers finished the game shooting 47.9% and still lost by 20.
The Timberwolves were missing the face of their franchise and one of the faces of the league in Anthony Edwards, who was out with right knee injury, but the Pacers had problems keeping another hard-driving wing away from the rim.
Ayo Dosunmu, the former Illinois star who the Timberwolves acquired from the Bulls at the trade deadline, blew past Pacers defenders at will for 24 points on 10 of 17 shooting. He hit 1 of 5 3-pointers but did damage in the paint where all of his 2-pointers came with most of those coming within 3 feet of the rim. He also recorded five rebounds, an assist and three steals.
The Pacers entered Tuesday's game with eight players listed as out including their top three scorers in Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, so they needed production from elsewhere. Forward Kobe Brown, who had scored in double figures in each of his last five games, left the game at halftime with a sore lower back, so the Pacers were even more short-handed.
The Pacers on the floor didn't have enough punch to make the game competitive, but they continued to see good signs from their two-way contract players.
Jalen Slawson, who was named first-team All-G League Defense Tuesday afternoon, scored 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting. It was his fourth double-figure scoring game since he was given a two-way contract on Feb. 28. He had eight NBA points in his life prior to that signing.
Meanwhile, Ethan Thompson scored 17 points on 4 of 8 shooting and made 8 of 10 free throws.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Timberwolves: Indiana turned the ball over 23 times in 124-104 loss
Continue reading...
The Pacers lost their third straight game to fall to 18-61, assuring that this will be at least the second-worst season in franchise history and maintaining the second-worst record in the NBA. The Timberwolves improved to 47-32. They sit in sixth in the Western Conference and could clinch a top-six position if the Suns lose to Houston later on Tuesday night.
Forward Julius Randle and guard Bones Hyland scored 19 points each for the Timberwolves. Forward Naz Reid had 17 points. Guard Ethan Thompson led the Pacers with 17 points. Forwards Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson had 14 points each.
Here are three observations.
Pacers doomed by turnovers
At halftime, the Pacers were shooting an even 50% from the floor, a healthy 41.7% from 3-point range and a nearly perfect 88.9% from the free throw line.
But they were still down by 10 points because they had as many turnovers as they had made field goals.
At that point, the turnover figure was 16. They did somewhat better at taking care of the ball in the second half, but still gave it away 23 times in the game.
The Timberwolves turned those into 34 points. Of the 23 turnovers, 16 were steals so those led to easy transition opportunities. But more to the point, they simply dominated the possession battle. Minnesota attempted 89 field goals to the Pacers' 73 and 41 3-pointers to the Pacers' 26, even though they only won the rebounding battle 39 to 34. The Pacers simply gave away entirely too many possessions to keep up. The Pacers finished the game shooting 47.9% and still lost by 20.
Pacers can't keep Ayo Dosunmu from the rim
The Timberwolves were missing the face of their franchise and one of the faces of the league in Anthony Edwards, who was out with right knee injury, but the Pacers had problems keeping another hard-driving wing away from the rim.
Ayo Dosunmu, the former Illinois star who the Timberwolves acquired from the Bulls at the trade deadline, blew past Pacers defenders at will for 24 points on 10 of 17 shooting. He hit 1 of 5 3-pointers but did damage in the paint where all of his 2-pointers came with most of those coming within 3 feet of the rim. He also recorded five rebounds, an assist and three steals.
Pacers get production from two-way players
The Pacers entered Tuesday's game with eight players listed as out including their top three scorers in Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, so they needed production from elsewhere. Forward Kobe Brown, who had scored in double figures in each of his last five games, left the game at halftime with a sore lower back, so the Pacers were even more short-handed.
The Pacers on the floor didn't have enough punch to make the game competitive, but they continued to see good signs from their two-way contract players.
Jalen Slawson, who was named first-team All-G League Defense Tuesday afternoon, scored 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting. It was his fourth double-figure scoring game since he was given a two-way contract on Feb. 28. He had eight NBA points in his life prior to that signing.
Meanwhile, Ethan Thompson scored 17 points on 4 of 8 shooting and made 8 of 10 free throws.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Timberwolves: Indiana turned the ball over 23 times in 124-104 loss
Continue reading...
