How Did Pacers Overcome Pesky Jazz?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Lance Roberson | Last updated Feb 4, 2025 11:23 AM ET

The Indiana Pacers went 10-2 in January but could have soiled such success by nearly falling to a lottery-destined team on Monday. After Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle earned Eastern Conference Coach of the Month, losing the Utah Jazz would have dampened the celebration. Instead, the Pacers turned heads with a fourth-quarter comeback vs. the Jazz, winning 112-111.

Without Myles Turner in the lineup, who missed Monday's game due to a peroneal strain, the Pacers selected Thomas Bryant as the starting center against the Jazz. Although Bryant didn't have a memorable game, he produced enough on defense to save face in a last-minute decision to place the center in the starting lineup.

Bryant finished with nine points and six rebounds. However, his two steals and a block helped the Pacers in their one-point victory over the pesky Jazz.

Utah led Indiana by as many as 15 points despite committing 18 turnovers. Moreover, bench production and rebounds told the tale of how the Jazz made the Pacers sweat.

The Jazz destroyed the Pacers on the boards 60-37. Turner isn't a rebounding savant, but he would have contributed enough to put a dent in such a lopsided number.

Ultimately, the Pacers protected the ball to the point of only choking up the rock on nine possessions and won the battle in transition as they scored points to the Jazz's 11.

Pacers Siakam led the game with 22 points, while four teammates scored double-digits.

Conversely, the Jazz's leading scorers were tied between John Collins and Jordan Clarkson, who combined for 42 points.

The Pacers avoided disaster by beating the Jazz, which led to them taking a two-game lead on the Milwaukee Bucks for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They next play at the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in the second night of a back-to-back schedule.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: