(PACERS RELEASE)
After fighting back from a 12-point deficit to earn a one-point lead in the fourth, lady luck just did not bounce the Pacers’ way down the stretch.
An overturned goaltending call and an unfortunate bounce of a loose ball caused the Pacers (6-4) to fall short against the Sacramento Kings (5-6) 127-122 late Monday night at Golden 1 Center for just the second time in the last eight regular-season meetings.
Trailing 118-117 after a pair of Harrison Barnes free throws, Domantas Sabonis received a pass from Oladipo and went up for a contested layup against Richaun Holmes. Originally called a goaltending violation, it was ruled Holmes had touched the ball before it hit the backboard, and the call was overturned.
On the ensuing Kings’ possession, the Pacers did everything right defensively. They clogged the lane and forced a loose ball. However, the ball trickled to the right corner and into the waiting hands of sharpshooter Buddy Hield. Hield obliged, and nailed the 3-pointer, giving Sacramento a 121-117 with 1:09 remaining. After an Oladipo 3-point attempt fell short, De’Aaron Fox then sealed the deal on the other end with a punishing one-handed slam.
Four Pacers finished with 20 points or more, with Sabonis leading the way. The big man tallied 28 points and hauled in 11 boards for his 10th straight double-double to start the season. Malcolm Brogdon added 24 on 9-of-18 shooting and dished out nine assists, while Oladipo and Doug McDermott added 21 apiece. 13 of McDermott’s season-high 21 points came in the second quarter.
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