Live updates: Pacers lead Hornets 108-78 at end of third quarter in play-in game
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The NBA Play-In Tournament explained
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The winner of this game faces the loser of the Washington-Boston game at 8 p.m. Thursday on TNT. The winner of that game is the eighth seed in the East (facing Philadelphia in Game 1 on Sunday), the loser is in the lottery.
FINAL: Pacers 144, Hornets 117
Pacers 144, Hornets 109, 1:51 to play in fourth: Cassius Stanley is 2-of-2, 1 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 4 points in 3 minutes.
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Goga Bitadze 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting, 4-of-6 from the line, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks … in 11 minutes.
Pacers 124, Hornets 91, 7:25 to play in the fourth: Sabonis has 14 points, 21 rebounds and 9 assists.
Pacers 108, Hornets 78, end of the third
For the first time, TNT commentator Greg Anthony acknowledged the Charlotte Hornets are in trouble.
Pacers 89, Hornets 60, 4:47 in the third: Washington, Ind.’s own Cody Zeller will not go quietly, 7-of-8 for 17 points, everyone else 17-of-58. 29.3%.
Oshae Brissett has 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
Pacers 76, Hornets 49, 9:43 in the third: Domantas Sabonis hits his first attempt of the second half … he’s 2-of-9 in the game … and the Pacers are leading by 27.
Pacers 69, Hornets 45, halftime
PACERS
Doug McDermott 20 points, 7-of-8, 4-of-5 on 3s
Malcolm Brogdon 13 points, 5-of-7, 2-of-3 on 3s, 6 assists,
Oshae Brissett 10 points, 4-of-5, 2-of-3 on 3s
10-of-20 on 3s
HORNETS
Cody Zeller 10 points, 5-of-5
P.J. Washington 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Terry Rozier 8 points, 3-of-11, 0-of-6 on 3s
Pacers 55, Hornets 39, 3:42 in the second: Bridges blocked Sabonis, sending him to the ground holding his head and giving the Hornets’ a fast break basket at the other end. Sabonis appeared to be OK.
Pacers 55, Hornets 37, 3:59 in the second: Pacers have held Terry Rozier to 3-of-10 shooting, including 0-of-6 on 3s.
Pacers 49, Hornets 30, 8:35 of the second: T.J. McConnell and Edmond Sumner have combined for 15 points off the bench.
Pacers 40, Hornets 24, end of first quarter: Devonte’ Graham hit a 35-footer at the shot clock buzzer with less than a minute to play and LaMelo Ball a free throw but T.J. McConnell got a steal and a basket then Sumner beat the quarter buzzer to end an impressive first quarter.
McDermott has 16, Brissett 8 for the Pacers.
P.J. Washington leads the Hornets with 8 points.
Pacers 32, Hornets, 18, 2:42 in the first: Indiana continues its red-hot shooting, 61.1% overall, 63.6% on 3-pointers. McDermott is 5-6, 4-5 on 3s, Oshae Brissett is 3-of-3, 2-of-2 on 3s.
Doug McDermott 14, Hornets 14, 5:43 in the first
Pacers 20, Hornets 7, 7:43 in the first: Doug McDermott, in the final season of his contract, not ready for his Pacers’ career to (potentially) end. He’s 4-of-4, including 3 3s, for 11 points. Charlotte, timeout.
Pacers 11, Hornets 3, 9:23 in the first: Malcolm Brogdon, playing after missing 10 games with a hamstring injury, hits his first shot, a 3-pointer, then pushes the lead to 8.
6:25 p.m.: No need to watch the game. TNT announcer Charles Barkley is guaranteeing a Hornets victory.
6:15 p.m.: The question of whether Nate Bjorkgren will remain as the Pacers’ coach has been circulating throughout the month and guard Malcolm Brogdon did not exactly fully endorse him.
IndyStar Pacers Insider J. Michael: Earlier in the season when you started out you guys were doing well. You were very strong in endorsing coach Bjorkgren and the kind of style he brought to the team, a new direction. Where do you stand now given all that’s transpired? You’re in ninth place, a few games under .500. Where do you stand as far as endorsing coacj Bjorkgren for the job?
Brogdon: “We’re trying to get this win for him tonight. That’s really all I can say. We’re focused on this win. There’s been a lot of hoopla that’s come out, a lot of distractions, a lot of noise. We’re in the play-in tournament. We still have a chance to make the playoffs. That’s what we’re focused on.”
The Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets play at 6:30 p.m. with the winner surviving to play at least one more day and the loser lottery-bound.
The Pacers won’t have Caris LeVert due to health and safety protocols but Malcolm Brogdon, Aaron Holiday, Domantas Sabonis and Edmond Sumner are available.
The Hornets will be without Gordon Hayward.
Stick around for updates during the game.
Schultz’s Star Show: Pacers talk with insider J. Michael
What’s a play-in game?: What you should know about the Pacers vs. Hornets play-in game.
Contact IndyStar Deputy Sports Editor Nat Newell at (317) 444-6182 or nat.newell@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NatJNewell.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Live updates: Pacers beat Hornets 144-117, make playoffs Thursday with a victory