Rookie Kam Jones hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 16.8 seconds left as the Indiana Pacers stormed back from an 18-point deficit and earned a 115-110 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night in New York.
The Pacers eked out their second straight close victory and improved to 9-9 in their past 18 following a 6-31 start.
After Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe stole the ball from Jones and hit a tying layup with 38.3 seconds left, the Pacers took the lead late in the shot clock. Kobe Brown found Jones at the right side and the guard released a 3 that cleanly went in just before Brooklyn’s Terance Mann could defend.
Following Jones’ shot, Brooklyn rookie Nolan Traore was blocked by Jay Huff at the rim with 8.1 seconds left. After getting the offensive rebound and calling a timeout, Egor Demin saw his 3-point try go long with 4.1 seconds left and Micah Potter hit two free throws with 1.6 seconds left.
Jarace Walker led Indiana with 14 of his 23 in the second half. Potter added a career-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, Ethan Thompson chipped in 15 and Taelon Peter contributed 14.
Jones and Huff finished with 11 apiece as the Pacers outscored the Nets 51-28 over the final 18 1/2 minutes.
The Pacers shot 48.9% and sat Pascal Siakam (sore left hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (lower back), Aaron Nesmith (sore lower back) and T.J. McConnell (right hamstring).
The Nets were unable to match a season best by winning their third straight and fell to 2-10 without Michael Porter Jr. (right knee tendinitis). Porter sat out his second straight game and Brooklyn held out Nic Claxton (sore right hip) and Noah Clowney (left ankle sprain).
Traore led the Nets with 20 points while Sharpe and Ziaire Williams contributed 19 apiece. Rookie Danny Wolf finished with 14, Demin added 13 and fellow first-year guard Ben Saraf contributed 12.
The Nets fell to 5-19 in their past 24 games and shot 44.7% while getting outscored 31-20 in the final quarter.
Williams made two 3s as the Nets scored eight straight points for an 82-64 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. The Pacers ended the third with a 20-8 run and Brooklyn settled for a 90-84 edge into the fourth.
Peter hit a stepback 3 to forge a 97-97 tie with 8:45 left and Potter split a pair at the line for a 98-97 lead with 7:40 remaining. Jones hit an eight-footer for a 105-101 lead with 3:55 left and Demin hit a corner 3 for a 108-106 lead with 2:04 to go.
