The Indiana Pacers erased a 16-point deficit to defeat the Sacramento Kings 111-109 on Monday night, and head coach Rick Carlisle credited a crucial tactical adjustment for the turnaround.
Carlisle opted to go small at center in the second half, a move that helped shift the momentum against Sacramento’s size advantage.
“We needed to change the energy of the game (going small at center),” Carlisle said postgame, via Scott Agness. “In order for it to be effective, they had to really fight against Sabonis and Valanciunas.”
Obi Toppin played a pivotal role in the adjustment, providing both scoring and defensive effort to counter Sacramento’s frontcourt.
“Obi really was the difference maker in this game with his offense, and he battled defensively,” Carlisle added.
The Pacers (44-31) were led by Aaron Nesmith, who scored 24 points, including 17 in the second half, to help Indiana solidify its hold on fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Toppin added 19 points, while Tyrese Haliburton contributed 18 points and 11 assists against his former team.
Sacramento (36-39) was powered by DeMar DeRozan’s 31 points and eight assists, while Domantas Sabonis finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds.
Zach LaVine chipped in 20 points, but the Kings faltered down the stretch after leading by as many as 16 in the third quarter.
Sacramento remains in 10th place in the Western Conference, missing an opportunity to close the gap on the ninth seed and secure a potential home game in the Play-In Tournament.
The Kings appeared in control early, building a 76-60 advantage in the third quarter before Indiana’s adjustments turned the tide.
Carlisle’s decision to downsize helped the Pacers increase their pace and defensive intensity, leading to a 30-23 scoring edge in the final period.
Haliburton hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:17 remaining, giving Indiana a 100-98 lead.
Pascal Siakam followed with another three-pointer to extend the lead to five with 36 seconds left.
Nesmith, who went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, sealed the win in the closing moments.
Sabonis recorded his 16th consecutive double-double despite the loss, continuing his dominant season for the Kings.
Keegan Murray contributed 12 points, while Malik Monk struggled, shooting 2-of-14 from the field and finishing with five points.
For Indiana, rookie Jarace Walker made a strong impact off the bench with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
Toppin was especially effective from deep, knocking down 5-of-8 three-pointers to help space the floor.
With the playoffs approaching, Indiana’s ability to adjust mid-game will be critical as they look to secure home-court advantage in the first round.
Sacramento, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle to improve its seeding, with little room for error in a tightly packed Western Conference race.
