The Indiana Pacers secured their first victory of the NBA season with a thrilling 114-109 win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Star player Pascal Siakam delivered a crucial three-pointer in the final seconds, propelling the injury-riddled team to snap a five-game losing streak.
Siakam led the Pacers with 27 points, while Aaron Nesmith achieved a career-high with 31 points. Quenton Jackson also stepped up, contributing another career-best with 25 points. The Pacers, who had struggled at the start of the season, found themselves down by 11 points midway through the fourth quarter, trailing 104-93 after a basket from Golden State’s Stephen Curry, who finished the game with 24 points.
In a remarkable comeback, Indiana closed the game on a 21-5 run. Siakam’s go-ahead shot with just 37 seconds left put the Pacers ahead 112-109. “We just played hard-nosed basketball,” Siakam emphasized after the game. “We’ve got to get back to being us. It has got to be tough on teams to play us.”
Jackson’s clutch basket with 5.2 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Pacers. Siakam praised his teammate’s performance, stating, “He was a big part of why we won. I’m just trying to instill confidence in those guys, to know you’ve got an opportunity.”
The Pacers entered the season with high hopes after reaching the NBA Finals last June, where they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. However, injuries have plagued the team this season, with key players sidelined, including star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. Other injured players include forward Obi Toppin (broken right foot), guard T.J. McConnell (hamstring), and guard Bennedict Mathurin (toe injury).
“This is the tough part,” Siakam reflected. “A couple months ago, we were at the top trying to win the championship and now going down 0-5, it’s hard. What I’m trying to do is get everybody together, continue to fight no matter what, just think about the next game. Just keep the faith.”
The Pacers’ victory comes as a much-needed boost for the team and its fans. Siakam urged supporters to remain patient during this challenging period, stating, “I have faith in these guys and I know we’re going to keep fighting. We’re going to get better. It’s a long season.”
In other NBA action, the Sacramento Kings edged the Milwaukee Bucks 135-133, with Zach LaVine scoring 31 points and DeMar DeRozan adding 29 points. The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in the loss.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Charlotte Hornets 122-105, led by Julius Randle‘s 30 points. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant scored 26 points to guide the Houston Rockets to a 128-101 victory over the Boston Celtics. In a later game, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City, marking the NBA’s 15th regular-season game in the country.
The Mavericks played without forward Anthony Davis, their leading scorer and rebounder, due to a lower left leg injury. The Pacers will look to build on their victory as they navigate the remainder of the season and aim to return to playoff contention.
