Indiana Pacers dealt Sacramento Kings its second loss in back-to-back pre-season ties at the NBA India Games 2019, played in front of another full house at the NSCI indoor stadium on Saturday.
For Pacers, finesse and composure in ball possession came through in the first three quarters, a change from the passion and adrenalin seen in Friday’s game. Both teams went all-out in the last quarter before Pacers won 130-106.
Pacers, having won by a solitary point in the first pre-season game in overtime, led from the second quarter. The frenzied surge ahead on the turnovers in the first game was replaced by a controlled build-up.
Fans witnessed ball-handling of the highest quality, sublime long-range shooting and slick passing made for a bold statement about the quality on show when the season starts.
The result: Indiana Pacers 130 (Alize Johnson 17, Aaron Holiday 16, Jakaar Sampson 15, Justin Holiday 14) bt Sacramento Kings 106 (Marvin Bagley 15, Buddy Hield 17, Yogi Ferell 12) .
