Pacers clinch playoff berth
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
(Photo by Pacers Sports and Entertainment)
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers are headed back to the playoffs.
They defeated the Miami Heat 113-107 in Overtime on Sunday night. It was a playoff-like atmosphere, and the Pacers are now a playoff-bound team for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
After an ugly start that saw the Heat leading 23-10, the Pacers did what they do best- put together a spirited comeback. It was the 10th time this season the Pacers won a game after trailing by 10+ points.
“We’ve done it all season long,” said Pacers forward Thaddeus Young. “We just do it by committee. We have fun. It’s always about ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ on this team. There are no egos in this locker room. Everybody just goes out there and does their job.”
Thad Young- “It’s always about ‘We on this team, not ‘I.” pic.twitter.com/A1ekSZ9tON
— Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith_ISL) March 26, 2018
Young led the Pacers with 22 points, nine rebounds, five steals, and three blocks. The Pacers are 6-1 when Young scores 20 or more points.
“I call him the glue,” said Nate McMillan. “The only numbers he cares about is winning. It just makes coaching a lot easier.”
The Pacers turned the ball over five times in six possessions late in the 4th-quarter, but were able to survive regulation with a tie score. They committed nine turnovers in the final quarter, but zero in OT. Darren Collison hit three huge shots in OT, and the Pacers improved to 3-0 on the season in Overtime games.
Since the beginning of January, the Pacers are 15-4 on their home court.
Oladipo- “We’ve still got so much to prove. My expectation was always to win.” pic.twitter.com/H9hGHVE0Dx
— Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith_ISL) March 26, 2018
The Pacers received a big effort from the second unit, led by Cory Joseph (9 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists). For the season, the Pacers are 28-14 when the bench scores 30 or more points.
“I’m very proud of what they’ve done,” said McMillan. “I love the fact that we earned the right to be there. We didn’t have to depend on help from another team getting there.”
This team celebrated in the locker room after the win, but now, it’s back to work. Nobody is satisfied with just making the playoffs.
“Our work is not done,” said Thad Young. “We want to get as high a seed as possible.”
Victor Oladipo added: “We have so much more to accomplish. Nobody believed we could be good except for the people in this locker room. I remember saying that after the first or second game of the year. It’s a great accomplishment but there’s a lot more to get done.”
#Pacers have made the playoffs in 7 of the last 8 years. Since 1989, they've made the playoffs 23 times- the most of any team in the Eastern Conference.
— Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith_ISL) March 25, 2018
Clinched! S/o to everyone who called me crazy in October 🤫 https://t.co/TssO073HzT
— Myl3s Turn3r (@Original_Turner) March 25, 2018
The Pacers clinch keeps Indianapolis’ streak alive too. Either the Pacers or the Colts (and most years both) have made the playoffs every year since 1989.
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) March 25, 2018
