Rookie Nembhard has 31, leads Pacers past Warriors, 112-104
Dec 5, 2022, 7:56 AM | Updated: 10:13 pm
Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Smith (25) dunks against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Draymond Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
(AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
SAN FRANCSICO (AP) — Rookie Andrew Nembhard outshined the Splash Brothers on their home court.
Nembhard scored a season-high 31 points and added 13 assists and eight rebounds to lead the undermanned Indiana Pacers to a 112-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
A second-round draft pick, Nembhard made a key 3-pointer with 4:26 to go and another jumper less than two minutes later.
“He was masterful tonight … 31 and 13, those are high lottery numbers,” coach Rick Carlisle said.
Indiana played without starting point guard Tyrese Haliburton for a second straight game as he nurses soreness in his left groin.
Klay Thompson scored 28 points and made eight 3-pointers, moving up the NBA’s career 3-point list on the six-year anniversary of his 60-point masterpiece against the Pacers.
Thompson finished 9 of 23, but Stephen Curry was held to 12 points on 3-for-17 shooting. Jordan Poole scored 23 starting in place of Andrew Wiggins, who sat out with tightness of the adductor muscle in his right leg.
“No matter what we do, it’s going to be hard to guard these guys. We had some good fortune with them missing some shots they may normally make,” Carlisle said. “But our guys played with a lot of presence to start the game. We were switching a lot and everyone was tied together.”
Nembhard hit five 3s while Buddy Hield added 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists as Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak with just its second win in six games.
Nembhard and the Pacers hardly looked like a team playing the second game of a road back-to-back.
“He was hoopin’ and I think that starts in the first half for us,” Golden State’s Donte DiVincenzo said. “The guards have to get into it a little bit more.”
Golden State had its 10-game home winning streak snapped.
Curry went 1 of 7 in the first half, missing all four of his 3-point tries and was 2 for 10 from deep overall. Curry finally connected from long range with 5:13 left in the third after missing his first five.
The Pacers, missing six players with injuries or illness, jumped out to a 22-12 lead as Golden State started 5 for 17.
Thompson knocked down three straight 3-pointers — all from the right wing — to tie the game at 42 with 4:51 left in the second quarter before a Pacers timeout. Thompson also dished out an assist on Jonathan Kuminga’s layup before his trio of 3s and nearly had another when Kuminga was fouled and made both free throws to cap a 20-2 run 3:40 before halftime.
60-POINT MEMORIES
Thompson scored 60 against Indiana over three quarters on Dec. 5, 2016. On Monday, he passed Jason Kidd (1,988) for 13th place on the 3-pointers list and now has 1,990.
“I remember people being mad at me for not keeping him out there on the floor so that he could try to get 70, but we had a big lead and at the end of the third it was clear cut we were going to win the game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It was an easy decision. I just remember, we’ve seen Klay get hot a lot over the years, but there’s a few games that stand out and that’s one of them.”
TIP-INS
Pacers: Indiana matched the Warriors in rebounding with 47 and led 34-21 after the opening quarter. … The Pacers also were without Myles Turner (sore right hamstring), James Johnson (sprained right elbow), T.J. McConnell (non-COVID illness), Chris Duarte (left ankle sprain) and Daniel Theis (right knee surgery).
Warriors: Kuminga fouled out in the final minute. … The Warriors have lost four straight at home to Indiana since a 112-89 win March 21, 2019, at old Oracle Arena in Oakland. … Golden State dropped to 11-2 at home and the 10-game unbeaten run was the best for the team on its home floor since 11 in a row from Oct. 30-Dec. 3, 2021.
UP NEXT
Pacers: At Minnesota on Wednesday night to conclude a seven-game trip over 12 days that is the team’s longest in 37 years.
Warriors: At Utah on Wednesday night having won two straight and six of seven vs. the Jazz.
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