Malcolm Brogdon knew the Pacers needed something, anything to get the Pacers going again. Injuries, home losses, and maybe a little self-doubt seemed to be dominating things.
So Brogdon made sure to take care of business himself, scoring 29 points, pulling down 15 rebounds and passing for seven assists, as the Pacers knocked off the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder by a 122-116 count on Wednesday.
All of it was huge, especially the remarkable rebounding total, given that the Pacers were missing centers Myles Turner (toe) and Goga Bitazde (ankle), as well as power forwards Domantas Sabonis (back) and JaKarr Sampson (suspended).
“I’d be lying to say there wasn’t more pressure to carry the team offensively,” Brogdon told reporters. “We have to tell ourselves ‘Go out and be more aggressive but continue to play the right way, get your teammates involved and give them confidence.'”
Brogdon did all those things and more as the Pacers (27-31) scrapped and clawed their way to victory despite using just eight guys. Caris LeVert was equally fantastic, tallying 28 points.
Along with all that, the Pacers received the performance of a lifetime from small forward Oshae Brissett — who ended up being the center by default in just his second NBA start. Along with erupting for 23 points and 12 boards, Brissett had to defend 7-foot-2 Thunder center Moses Brown.
“I came in here with high hopes,” Brissett told Bally Sports Indiana. “I knew the work I put in was going to pay off. But to this extent, it’s crazy.”
It’s more than crazy. It’s giving the Pacers reason to believe in good things when those injured bodies should return.
Until then, the forever-underrated Brogdon will clearly just keep trying to carry the load.
