Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Late 3 gives Pacers rare win over Spurs
INDIANAPOLIS — Victor Oladipo took a big step toward stamping Indianapolis as his town Sunday.
All it took was one clutch shot.
The Pacers’ new starting guard knocked down a stepback 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to complete a late rally and give Indiana a rare 97-94 victory over San Antonio.
“It was a little deep, a little too deep,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t really want to shoot it that far but the move felt good and I just made my follow through. I like shooting at the end of the game. That’s stuff you dream about.”
In Indiana, game-winners have been hard to find lately.
Four-time All-Star Paul George had 15 go-ahead shots in the final 20 seconds of games during his career with the Pacers — and missed all 15.
Oladipo had no trouble making the first with his new team.
In fact, the two guys Indiana acquired from Oklahoma City in last summer’s widely-panned deal for George, became the catalysts in only the Pacers’ third win over the Spurs since 2007.
Oladipo finished with 23 points and five assists and led the Pacers in scoring for the sixth time in six games. Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 12 rebounds, both career highs, while going 9 of 9 from the field.
It wasn’t by happenstance. “We try to come in every night and prove that we’re not just those players who were in the Paul George trade and that we actually mean something,” Sabonis said after again replacing the injured Myles Turner in the starting lineup.
They helped offset LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 26 points and eight rebounds, and Pau Gasol, who had 17 points, seven rebounds, five blocks and five assists.
San Antonio’s second straight loss will force coach Gregg Popovich to wait at least one more day to tie Phil Jackson for No. 6 on the NBA’s career victory list, too.
But when the Spurs opened the fourth quarter on an 18-5 run to take an 82-73 lead with 6:44 left, it looked like the Spurs might run away.
Instead Sabonis and Oladipo spurred a 16-3 spurt that gave Indiana an 89-85 lead with 3:06 left and a couple of possessions later, Oladipo broke an 89-89 tie with a three-point play.
Danny Green answered with five straight to give the Spurs a 94-92 lead, but Oladipo hit the long jumper to put Indiana ahead for good.
“It was well-contested,” Popovich said. “He was deep and he was off balance. But give him credit, he knocked it down. It was well-contested and it doesn’t bother me at all.”
Aldridge’s 19-footer with 5 seconds left bounced off the rim, Cory Joseph grabbed the rebound and drew a foul and made two free throws.
Patty Mills’ 3 from the corner at the buzzer was way off the mark.