Pacers at Timberwolves
The Indiana Pacers recorded two victories by 20 points or more at home in the early going but hope to produce a better effort in their second road game Monday night, when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pacers could not get enough stops as Milwaukee pulled away for a 118-101 victory Friday before coming home to rout Brooklyn 132-112 one night later with the help of 25 points from Victor Oladipo.
“We got to be ready to play on the road. (It’s) a different type of environment,” Oladipo told the Indianapolis Star. “It’s more hostile and guys are ready to play. They’re ready to defend their home court.” Indiana won four straight at Minnesota after a 130-107 victory last October that included 28 points from Oladipo, and the road team is on a five-game winning streak in the series. The Timberwolves produced plenty of points in the first three games but the defense has been lacking (125 points per game against), no more so than Saturday, when Dallas outlasted them 140-136 with a 43-point fourth quarter and a 15-6 edge in offensive rebounds. “We have to, as bigs, get to rebounds,” Minnesota forward Karl-Anthony Towns told reporters. "... We got a lead by getting those rebounds, getting in transition and utilizing our athleticism and our speed and our talent. We have to be able to utilize that better."
TV: 8 p.m. ET. FS Indiana, FS North (Minnesota)
ABOUT THE PACERS (2-1): Even though it allowed 112 points Saturday, Oladipo pointed at defense as a key to Indiana’s easy victory over Brooklyn. “When we play at a high level defensively, we give ourselves a great chance to win,” Oladipo told reporters of the Pacers, who were tied for fourth in points against (104.3) and sixth in field-goal percentage defense (41.8) through Saturday. "We have to build on it. … If we do that and continue to keep growing, continue to keep playing with confidence on good days and bad days, the sky’s the limit.” Power forwards Domantas Sabonis (knee) and T.J. Leaf (ankle) are both questionable after missing Saturday’s game.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (1-2): Jimmy Butler, who made a trade request before training camp, is expected back in the lineup after being rested Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back - following a 33-point effort against Cleveland on Friday. That gave rookie guard Josh Okogie, the 20th pick in last June’s draft, a chance to make his NBA debut against Dallas and he contributed six points, five rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. “I knew where to pick my spots and what my role is when I’m on the court with them,” Okogie told the Star Tribune. “I came in the game ready to make an impact. I knew I just had to come to the game, rebound, do the dirty work, let the others shine.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Minnesota F Andrew Wiggins scored at least 19 points in each contest this season, but averaged 10.5 in two games versus Indiana in 2017-18.
2. Indiana PF Myles Turner increased his point total from eight to 11 to 14 in the first three games.
3. Towns scored 31 on 9-for-16 shooting against Dallas after averaging 10 on 6-for-16 in the first two contests.