The Indiana Pacers secured their fourth consecutive win with a commanding 122-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings, extending their season-high winning streak. After a tied first half, with both teams deadlocked at 52-52, the Pacers came out firing in the second half, outscoring the Kings 70-43. Pascal Siakam was pivotal in the Pacers' dominant performance, scoring 13 points in the second half alone. Myles Turner contributed 15 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added 14 points and eight assists. Ben Sheppard played a significant role off the bench, making all four of his three-point attempts to finish with 14 points.
The Pacers' defense was key to their victory, particularly in the final quarter, where they shot an incredible 74% from the field and limited the Kings to just 25% shooting. Despite De'Aaron Fox leading Sacramento with 23 points, he struggled in the final quarter, scoring only two points. Domantas Sabonis, who was traded by the Pacers to Sacramento in 2022, had a strong outing, posting a season-high 21 rebounds and 17 points. The Pacers' 15-5 run in the third quarter, capped by a three-pointer from Haliburton, gave them a 69-59 lead, and they never looked back. Indiana continued to build on their advantage, ultimately pushing their lead to 104-83 in the final stretch, securing a dominant win.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets emerged victorious in a thrilling overtime game against the New Orleans Pelicans, winning 132-129. The Nuggets overcame a 17-point deficit, rallying in the second half to force overtime. Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Jamal Murray also contributed 27 points, including a clutch step-back jumper to tie the game and send it into overtime. Russell Westbrook, coming off the bench, played a crucial role, scoring many of his points after halftime to support the Nuggets' comeback effort.
In the extra period, Denver's resilience shone through as they continued to outplay the Pelicans. Despite a strong performance from New Orleans' Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, who both contributed significantly on offense, the Nuggets' depth and clutch shooting ultimately secured the win. Jokic's all-around play and Murray's scoring kept Denver in the game, allowing them to weather New Orleans' offensive surges and claim the hard-fought overtime victory.