The Pacers are fighting for their playoff lives, and they will do whatever it takes to get there — even if it means doing implementing a zone.
That’s what happened during their 115-109 determined home win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, with Indy going on a 12-0 run late to seal the deal. Malcolm Brogdon (26 points) and Caris LeVert (25) again delivered, but it was mostly the defense that did it.
“It was great switching to the 2-3 zone,” LeVert told the media. “We were able to get out in the open court and get some layups.”
Once again, the Pacers were without power forward Domantas Sabonis and center Myles Turner. They were destroyed on the boards by a 62-39 count. So coach Nate Bjorkgren decided to try something a little different in moving to the 2-3.
It worked. In the end, the Pacers forced the Pistons into 18 turnovers, committing only four themselves.
“Credit the guys for being active in it,” Bjorkgren said of the zone.
The Pacers (28-31) are now just a game behind the Charlotte Hornets for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, with a Sunday visit to the Orlando Magic on tap.
Edmond Sumner added 22 points for the Pacers, and Oshae Brissett continued to make the most of his newfound opportunity with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Along with that, Doug McDermott returned from a sprained ankle to score 18 points off the bench, while T.J. McConnell (six points) dazzled his way to 13 assists.
“I think it speaks volumes about the guys we have in the locker room,” McConnell said of life without Sabonis and Turner. “With our coaching staff, there’s no quit, no give up. We go out there and play extremely hard.”
