NBA Game Notes (Jan. 18, 2024)
Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on January 18, 2024.
Shorthanded Pacers Prevail
The shorthanded Indiana Pacers held off the Sacramento Kings 126-121 to pick up their 10th victory in the last 13 games. The Pacers prevailed despite playing without the services of newly-acquired Pascal Siakam (yet to join team), fellow All-Star Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring), Aaron Nesmith (shin), and Andrew Nembhard (back). In addition, Isaiah Jackson left the game in the first quarter after sustaining a blow to the head and did not return.
The Pacers have scored at least 120 points in 30 of their 41 games this season, the highest such total in NBA history through 41 games. The previous mark of 28 such games was held by the 1981-82 Denver Nuggets.
Indiana’s scoring average of 125.6 PPG is the highest in NBA history by a team through its first 41 games of a season, bettering the mark of 125.4 PPG set by the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers.
Bennedict Mathurin scored a team-high 25 points on 11-21 shooting from the field for the Pacers, while starting backcourt mate T.J. McConnell scored 20 points (9-14 field goals) and dished out a team-high 10 assists.
Pacers forward Jalen Smith scored 17 points and hauled in a game-high 13 rebounds in just 25 minutes played, hitting six of his seven shots from the floor. Center Myles Turner added 18 points, while reserve Jarace Walker established a new career high with 15 points.
The Kings’ Domantas Sabonis recorded his third straight triple-double, compiling 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Sabonis now has 44 career triple-doubles, breaking a tie with Fat Lever for 11th place on the NBA’s all-time list. He has 12 triple-doubles this season, tied with Nikola Jokic for the league lead.
It’s the first time Sabonis has recorded three consecutive triple-doubles. He’s the first King to record at least three straight triple-doubles since Oscar Robertson in January 1966 (when the franchise was known as the Cincinnati Royals).
Sabonis has recorded 24 straight double-doubles, the longest such streak of his career and the longest such streak by a King since Jerry Lucas in 1968 (again, when they were known as the Royals). Sabonis is averaging 21.2 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 8.7 APG with a field goal percentage of 63.0% over that span.
Sabonis has totals of 508 points, 319 rebounds, and 209 assists in those 24 games. He’s just the fifth player in NBA history to record at least 500 points, 300 rebounds, and 200 assists over a 24-game span, joining Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Russell Westbrook, and Nikola Jokic.
Kings guard Keven Huerter led all scorers with 31 points, shooting 11-17 from the field with seven 3-pointers made. Forward Keegan Murray added 27 points and nine rebounds, making 11 of his 18 shots from the floor.
De’Aaron Fox was the fourth King to record a 20-point game, scoring 24 points to go with six rebounds and six assists. Fox struggled with his shot, though, going 8-20 from the field (40.0%) and 5-9 from the free throw line (55.6%).
The Kings have dropped four straight games, their longest losing streak since starting the 2022-23 season with four consecutive losses. They are allowing an average of 125.0 PPG over that span.
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