Pacers knock off Grizzlies for 3rd consecutive win behind 61 points from starting guards

Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon (7) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) and center Xavier Tillman (2)in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

 (Photo: Brandon Dill, AP)

It has taken almost four months, but the Indiana Pacers have won 3 games in a row again.

They led from the opening tip Sunday but had to hold on to take down the Memphis Grizzlies, 132-125, at FedEx Forum to sweep the season series, 2-0.

Caris LeVert (34 points) led Indiana, which began the 2020-21 season with 3 consecutive wins, followed by Malcolm Brogdon (29 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds), Domantas Sabonis (18 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists), Doug McDermott (13 points), Edmond Sumner (11 points), T.J. McConnell (10 points, 4 assists) and Goga Bitadze (7 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks).

Memphis’ 6-0 run cut the deficit to 124-123 but extra chances helped Indiana stay on top. LeVert made his final field goal off an offensive rebound with the shot clock winding down for a 128-125 lead. 

Jonas Valanciunas (34 points, 22 rebounds) and Ja Morant (23 points) led Memphis (26-25). 

The Pacers (25-27) had 15 offensive rebounds. They gave up 24 with Valanciunas getting 12. Indiana remains the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, just 3.5 games behind fourth-place Atlanta.

Memphis can’t guard Caris LeVert

LeVert had a favorable matchup with Grayson Allen, who isn’t equipped defensively to stay in front of him. The Grizzlies tried Dillon Brooks (13 points) but by that time it was too late. Even when he was covered well, LeVert finished shots of extreme difficulty in traffic. LeVert made 14 of 20 shots. He scored 43 points here with the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 8. 

Pacers’ offensive rebounds spark victory

After giving up so many second chances to help other teams get going against them, the Pacers feasted early as Sabonis spearheaded the effort. Four offensive rebounds led to easy buckets and a 14-8 lead. The Pacers scored a season-high 45 in the first quarter as they ran off even made shots and were able to get layups. They shot 19-for-29, only turned it over once and had 15-8 edge in total rebounds. They were minus-9 in offensive boards when it was over which is how the Grizzlies muscled their way back but 2 offensive rebounds in the final minute for the Pacers produced a key putback for Justin Holiday (5 points) and set up LeVert for a basket.

Zone slows down Pacers in second quarter

The Grizzlies slowed down the Pacers in the second quarter with a zone and were able to cut the deficit to 62-59 because of so many dead possessions. The pace was off. Indiana had passed the ball so well for most of 2 quarters that it overpassed as a 57-42 advantage dissipated. McConnell, McDermott, Sabonis and Sumner gave it away. When the ball did get through, Sabonis missed a layup. LeVert, however, got them going again with two made shots and Brogdon made a 3 and got into the soft spot of the Grizzlies’ zone to help get the lead back to 74-63 by halftime.