Double-double from Sabonis helps Pacers to hold off Kings for first road victory / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

Caris LeVert scored a season-high 22 points and T.J. McConnell added 18 as the visiting Indiana Pacers (4-7) notched their first road victory in six tries with a 94-91 (27-19, 21-24, 26-24, 20-24) win over the Sacramento Kings (5-5) on Sunday.

Player of the Game EFF 24 Myles Turner Points 12 Accuracy 4-10 Rebounds 15 Assists 3

Domantas Sabonis had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Chris Duarte added 15 points, and Myles Turner tallied 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Pacers, who were 1-6 to open the season but have won three of their last four games.

Tyrese Haliburton hit a 3-pointer to pull Sacramento within 93-91 with 1:28 remaining but missed a 3-point attempt with 2.5 seconds left and McConnell hit one of two free throws for the final margin.

Harrison Barnes scored 22 points and Buddy Hield, De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton had 17 apiece for the Kings, who were seeking their third straight win.

Indiana used a 14-2 run to lead 24-11 in the first quarter before Sacramento scored eight of the period's final 11 points to pull within 27-19. Hield ended the quarter with one of his five 3-pointers, this one from just past the midcourt line at the buzzer.

The Kings took their first lead of the game at 32-31 on Barnes' 27-foot 3-pointer with 7:03 left in the opening half.

Duarte scored 12 points in the first half to help Indiana take a 48-43 lead into the break.

Sacramento shot 4 of 17 (23.5 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half after making a franchise-record 22 3-pointers in Friday's 140-110 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Pacers began the second half on a 12-4 run and moved ahead 60-47 on Sabonis' layup.

McConnell's three-point play extended the Pacers' lead to 15 points with 4:31 left in the third quarter before Hield hit three 3-pointers during a 13-5 run to end the period.

LeVert scored 13 points in the third quarter for Indiana, which led by seven before Sacramento opened the fourth quarter with an 11-1 run to move ahead 78-75 with 8:03 remaining.

The Pacers won despite committing 21 turnovers and shooting 6 of 25 (24 percent) from 3-point range.

Indiana played without leading scorer Malcolm Brogdon, who missed his second straight contest due to a non-COVID illness.

Kings: Harrison Barnes 22 (5/9 2PT, 1/6 3PT, 9/11 FT, 5 AST), Tyrese Haliburton (4/8 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 3 STL), De'Aaron Fox 17 (6/16 2PT, 3 STL), Buddy Hield 17 (5/12 3PT, 3 STL), Richaun Holmes 11 (9 REB).Pacers: Caris LeVert 22 (8/17 2PT, 1/5 3PT, 6 REB), T.J. McConnell 18 (8/13 2PT, 7 REB, 4 AST, 4 TO), Domantas Sabonis 17 (7/10 2PT, 10 REB, 3 STL), Chris Duarte 15 (4/7 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 5 REB), Myles Turner 12 (2/5 3PT, 15 REB, 5 BLK).

Highlights

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