AP

Brissett leads Pacers past Trail Blazers 129-98

Mar 20, 2022, 3:08 AM | Updated: 4:26 pm

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, right, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Williams, l...

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, right, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Williams, left, go for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)


              Portland Trail Blazers forward Drew Eubanks (24) grabs a rebound between Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze (88) and forward Oshae Brissett (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
            
              Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Smith (25) grabs a round over Portland Trail Blazers guard Kris Dunn (18) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 20, 2022. The Pacers won 129-98. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
            
              Indiana Pacers guard Justin Anderson (10) and Portland Trail Blazers guard Josh Hart, top, collide as they go for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
            
              Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Smith (25) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Drew Eubanks (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
            
              Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Smith (25) shoots in front of Portland Trail Blazers guard Kris Dunn, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
            
              Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, right, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Williams, left, go for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Oshae Brissett scored 24 points, Justin Anderson had 18 and the Indiana Pacers cruised past the Portland Trail Blazers 129-98 Sunday.

Brissett sank 8 of 10 shots and all six free throws, and he led Indiana with nine rebounds.

“I’m still learning and continuing to build,” Brissett said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity I’m getting right now and trying to capitalize on it. I’m trying not force anything and being my best self.”

Terry Taylor and Jalen Smith each scored 17 points for the Pacers, who never trailed. Lance Stephenson had 11 assists.

“Our guys jumped into the game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We did what we need to do, which was to execute and be unselfish. We did some good things defensively, held them under 100.”

The Trail Blazers have lost 10 of 11, including four in a row. Josh Hart led them with 26 points, hitting 11 of 13 shots. Trendon Watford scored 17 points, Drew Eubanks had 12, and Kris Dunn and Ben McLemore each had 11.

Hart scored 14 points in the third quarter as Portland held a 34-25 lead to close the deficit to 94-82. However, the Pacers were able to expand their lead in fourth with a 35-16 advantage.

The Pacers led by 25 in the first half before settling for a 69-48 halftime lead.

Indiana grabbed a 16-4 lead as the Trail Blazers hit only one of their first nine shots.

“We got off to a slow start with turnovers and missed shots,” Watford said. “We were pretty much playing catch up from there. We would start to make a little run and we’d look up and we’re still down 17.”

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Justise Winslow was sidelined with soreness in his right Achilles tendon. … Watford scored in double figures for the eighth straight game. Watford, a rookie from LSU, also had eight rebounds and three assists.

Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon sat out for rest, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. … Chris Duarte missed his second consecutive game with a sore left big toe. … With Brogdon and Duarte out, Anderson got the start after signing a 10-day contract Thursday.

ROAD WOES

The Trail Blazers have played eight of their last nine games on the road.

“I feel like I got hit by a truck,” Hart said. “It’s definitely rough with time zones and time changes.”

Hart said that shouldn’t be an excuse, especially with all the young players on the team. The Trail Blazers play at Detroit on Monday night before returning home.

HIGHLIGHT REEL

Near the end of the first half, Stephenson hit Brissett with a behind-the-back pass, and Brissett went up for a reverse dunk.

“It was spectacular,” Carlisle said. “We see Lance make similar type plays like that before. He put a little extra mustard on it with the look off into the crowd. It’s one of the most unselfish and best plays of the season, and it’ll be a highlight.”

Brissett got fouled and hit the free throw to complete

“I got out in transition and you got to get the crowd into it,” Brissett said. “Lance made a great pass and I just had to do something to show out.”

Stephenson said he heard everybody yelling but didn’t see Brissett’s dunk until he saw the replay.

“That was insane,” he said.

UP NEXT

Trail Blazers: At Detroit on Monday to close five-game road trip.

Pacers: Hosts Sacramento on Wednesday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Brissett leads Pacers past Trail Blazers 129-98