While the Indiana Pacers have been unable to replicate the otherworldly success they enjoyed last season when they finished second in the NBA in offensive rating, their play on that side of the court remains well above average.
The Pacers have certainly benefited from their offensive balance, with six players averaging double figures in points and two others — T.J. McConnell and Aaron Nesmith — on the threshold of doing the same. Nesmith posted a career-high 27 points as the Pacers beat the Chicago Bulls 127-112 on Sunday to open a two-game homestand that concludes with a matchup against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
While all five starters scored in double figures against the Bulls, the standout performance from Nesmith was noteworthy. He missed 35 games with am ankle injury earlier this season before returning on Jan. 16.
With Bennedict Mathurin, who is third on the Pacers in scoring at 16.2 points per game, out for the past two games due to a wrist injury and questionable for Tuesday, Indiana needs complementary scoring to support Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Halliburton. Nesmith delivered in a timely manner vs. Chicago.
Nesmith, who buried six 3-pointers in the win, showcased that he can be more than a 3-and-D player. If he proves capable of producing at a relatively efficient clip down the stretch of the regular season, the Pacers stand to benefit when the playoffs commence.
“He’s reading the game better than he ever has,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of Nesmith. “His running is really good. He’s able to get some easy transition buckets mixed in. He’s not just a one-dimensional 3-point shooter, and defensively, he’s one of our best guys.
“He’s getting a big chunk of minutes with Mathurin out, and we needed it.”
The Rockets were down four starters and two other members of their rotation in their 137-128 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. Houston sat All-Star center Alperen Sengun (back) in addition to fellow starters Fred VanVleet (ankle), Dillon Brooks (knee) and Amen Thompson (shoulder) yet fashioned a competitive effort against the top team in the Western Conference.
Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore took full advantage of the opportunity, with Sheppard posting a career-high 25 points and five assists while Whitmore added 27 points (tying his career best), 11 rebounds, two steals and three blocks in his third career double-double. Whitmore logged a career-high 40 minutes while Sheppard, a rookie out of Kentucky, made his first career start.
Houston has relied on its depth throughout the season, but Whitmore and Sheppard have been unable to garner consistent playing time. When their numbers were called against the Thunder, both excelled, and their performances could earn additional minutes as the season winds down.
“Every opportunity on the court matters,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka, whose team has lost two games in a row. “With the opportunity to play more and get those extended looks, we look at everything as coaches as an opportunity for them. Who can handle themselves in a high-pressure situation against a good opponent?
“For those guys to play meaningful minutes and deliver like they did was a good sign.”
–Field Level Media
